held up in last pair but in touch, headway bypassing omitted 3 out, one pace in 4th before next
held up in last pair but in touch, steady headway bypassing omitted 3 out, pushed along in 2nd approaching 2 out, driven between last 2, kept on under pressure run-in, not quite reach winner
took keen hold, chased leaders on inside, hit 3rd and next, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
chased leader, led 3rd, driven along and headed before 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd and no extra
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, hit 8th, lost 2nd after 3 out, led before 2 out, 3 lengths clear and good jump last, held on under pressure
led until 3rd, chased leader until 6th, 2nd again briefly after 3 out, weakened before next
It's fitting that Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson go head-to-head in the jumps season finale, as they did 12 months ago. Henderson's POLLY PEACHUM found Nicholls' Southfield Theatre a short-head too good last year but the mare can take her revenge on his half-brother Southfield Vic this time around. She was only beaten a head by Glen's Melody in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and that is better form than Southfield Vic's victory in a Haydock handicap three weeks ago. Bayan has a penalty but Gordon Elliott's charge isn't out of this as he found the ground too testing on the Flat at Musselburgh earlier this month. Aqalim won easily at Cheltenham nine days ago after running well at The Festival but Dragon's Den and the novice Twentytwo's Taken have a lot to find on these terms.
Bayan (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) 6th of 10, 17l behind Gitane Du Berlais (9-10) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f hdle Grd 3 hvy in Mar.
Aqalim 10-3fav (11-2) Mid-division, in touch 9th, tracked leaders after 3 out, challenged after next, led approaching last, ridden clear flat, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd beating Kingsmere (10-7) by 9l, 10 ran.
Dragon's Den (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, chased leaders before 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace from last, no impression, 4th of 10, 20l behind Long House Hall (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd.
Southfield Vic (IRE) 5-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 2nd, lost place and ridden when not fluent 6th, not fluent next, rallied 2 out, went 2nd from last, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft beating Raktiman (10-4) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Polly Peachum (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, driven 2 out, ridden and kept on when left disputing 2nd at last, soon every chance, kept on flat, just held, 2nd of 15, hd behind Glens Melody (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f mares hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Twentytwo's Taken (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Raced keenly, made most, headed between last 2, one pace last, no impression flat, 4th of 8, 12l behind Stephanie Frances (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares listed nov hdl (1) gd.
