held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge when blundered 2 out, no extra flat
chased leaders, every chance 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on strongly (1 fence ommited)
tracked leaders, hit 1st, under pressure before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on well under pressure
held up towards rear when fell 5th
with leader, led 4th, mistake 7th, hard pressed from 3 out, headed before last, kept on well
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 2 out, soon no impression
led until 4th, remained prominent, every chance when pecked on landing 3 out, weakened well before next
held up in rear, headway before 2 out, never on terms
chased leaders, lost place after 3 out
A high-class renewal and the ante-post betting has God's Own and Balder Succes fighting this one out. The former came out best of that pair in last month's Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter but is 7lb worse off today - though the latter ran poorly on this card last year. Both will need to be at their best to get the better of last year's runner-up SOMERSBY (NAP), who found only Sire De Grugy too good on that occasion and once again in the Queen Mother Chase at Cheltenham in March. Mick Channon's chaser may prove a bit of value on that form. Dodging Bullets is preferred to struggling stablemate Hinterland for the Nicholl's yard but there is not much between him and Oscar Whisky on collateral form with Uxizandre. The remainder have some improving to do to get involved and that includes recent Haydock winner Third Intention
Balder Succes (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, closed after 4th, challenging when blundered 3 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 5l behind God's Own (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Dodging Bullets 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, closed 8th, challenged 2 out, driven flat, no impression on winner, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Uxizandre (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m lst chs (1) sft in Nov.
God's Own (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, prominent, led when mistake 4 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov beating Balder Succes (11-0) by 5l, 7 ran.
Hinterland (FR) 10-3 (10-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, in touch on bend but pushed along before 4 out, no impression and pulled up before fence, in a race won by God's Own (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Oscar Whisky (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway before 6th, not fluent, bumped and lost place 3 out, rallied before last, edged left and stayed on flat, 4th of 18, 2 1/4l behind Caid Du Berlais (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Somersby (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Raced wide tracking leading trio, mistake 2nd, 3rd at 11th, pushed along before 2 out, driven into 2nd between last two, no chance with winner when mistake last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Al Ferof (11-11) at Ascot 2m 3f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Third Intention (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, soon clear, won at Haydock 2m grad ch (2) sft in Nov beating Mwaleshi (11-7) by 17l, 4 ran.
Vukovar (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Badly hampered 1st, behind, tended to jump right from 7th, ridden and outpaced on outside after 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 12, 41l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
William's Wishes (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden before laast one pace, went 4th towards finish, no impression, 4th of 5, 12l behind The New One (11-3) at Haydock 2m hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Pepite Rose (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, in touch on bend befoe 4 out, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 36l behind God's Own (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
