made all, jumped well throughout, quickened clear approaching 3 out, unchallenged
held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden and weakened 13th, tailed off 4 out
held up last, ridden 13th, stayed on one pace from 2 out
prominent, ridden and outpaced 13th, kept on well to go 2nd after last
chased leader, weakened 12th, tailed off 4 out
prominent, chased leader and challenged 12th, weakened 3 out, ridden when hit last
prominent, reminder after 11th, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out
in touch, ridden 13th, weakened after 4 out
chased leaders to 2nd, soon behind, ridden after 11th, no impression
fell at 2nd
Sonevafushi bounced back to form last time, and is taken to follow up under topweight, with Yardbird, Cowboyboots and Brave Spirit just a few more in with a shout. Sonevafushi has not always impressed with his jumping, but the Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old got round Newbury safely last week as he handed out a 17-length beating to Bee And Bee. He was eased down on the run-in as well so was good value for that easy success. However, that was a 0-125 contest, and he now has to carry a big weight here, but we think that he will be up to the task as this is certainly no harder. Yardbird got going late to land the spoils at Wincanton on Boxing Day, and as this will be only his third outing over fences, he remains open to some improvement, while Cowboyboots, who overcame a mistake in the Sussex National at Plumpton to finish fourth, has the stamina to take a hand. So does Brave Spirit, successful in this event 12 months ago, and who was pulled up in that Plumpton race last time. It is not hard to see him being in the shake-up again, while of the rest, Even More, also successful over track and trip in the past, has a light enough weight to be considered. Overall though, we just prefer the claims of Sonevafushi.
Sonevafushi (FR) 9-2fav (11-12) Made all, drew clear from 3 out, easily, won at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Bee An Bee (11-7) by 17l, 10 ran.
Present Bleu (FR) 100-1 (9-12) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by L'aventure (10-4) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Cowboyboots (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Blundered and dropped to rear 4th, recovered to track leaders from 9th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 12, 17l behind Dunbrody Millar (9-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Brave Spirit (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Not fluent and never going well in rear, lost touch 12th, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Dunbrody Millar (9-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 12 ran.
Naunton Brook 20-1 (11-1) Led 3rd to 9th, led 11th until after 14th, weakened 17th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Double Honour (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Yardbird (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 3 out, challenged last, ran on strongly to lead post, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec beating Black De Bessy (11-9) by a shd, 11 ran.
Koquelicot (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Led to 14th, chased leaders until ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, 12l behind Yardbird (11-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 16th, weakened after 17th, 9th of 11, 22l behind Yardbird (11-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
Even More (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Early lead, lost place and behind after 12th, rallied approaching 4 out, stayed on strongly to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Nas Na Riogh (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Jiver (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Towards rear, ridden approaching 13th, never reached leaders, 6th of 11, 9l behind Yardbird (11-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
