chased leaders, close 4th when fell 13th (Valentines)
held up, headway after 3 out, disputing 3rd when fell 2 out
held up, behind when jumped left 13th (Valentines), never dangerous after
prominent, fell 11th
in touch, went 2nd at the 13th (Valentines), weakened from last
held up, headway 2 out, one pace and no impression
in touch, fell 10th (Beeches)
towards rear, behind when fell 9th
not jumped well, mid-division, mistake 8th, blundered 13th (Beeches), ridden 3 out, no impression
mid-division, behind when blundered 7th, tailed off from 12th (Canal Turn)
made all, ridden 2 out, kept on well
held up, effort 3 out, never dangerous
held up, mistake 4th (Water), headway 9th, ridden 2 out, weakened flat
behind, hampered and unseated rider 3rd (The Chair)
held up, behind when mistake 12th (Canal Turn), never dangerous
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, soon lost place, mid-division when fell 14th
chased leaders, went 2nd at the 16th, ridden and stayed on from last
in touch, outpaced 3 out, ridden to go 2nd last, hung left and stayed on flat
behind when fell 3rd (The Chair)
always behind, tailed off from 12th (Canal Turn)
chased leaders, ridden 2 out, one pace from last
behind, mistake 5th, never dangerous
mid-division when fell 5th
This is very competitive and we will suggest a quartet of Whereareyounow, Il'Athou, Melford and Rocking Ship, and side with Melford. Even off topweight, Almost Broke looks progressive and can go well, while Whereareyounow is just two pounds above a winning mark, and he was only just ahead of Wain Mountain in the Topham Chase in April, and both are respected. Il'Athou won well at Haydock last time and could conceivably still be well-weighted, while Sue Smith's Better Days is a potential improver from a canny yard. Be My Better Half looks reasonably weighted based on his best Irish form but he'll need to jump better than he did last time, while Cobbet is also back to a winning mark from 2004, so can't be ruled out. Benrajah is not far above a winning rating, and Hakim comes here on a roll and looks likely to be in the shake-up. Melford looked an improved performer at Haydock last time and gets a good mention, while Tanterari can't be ruled out for the in-form Johnson/Pipe/Murphy team. Ulusaba is now just a pound below a winning mark and hails from a good yard, so is respected, as is Tipsy Mouse, who is another to be arguably well-weighted. Irish raider Rocking Ship gets a solid shout from another shrewd yard, and Fiori can be given a shout based on his best form of the last two years, while Cassia Heights is very well-in based on his win in the Topham Chase here in 2004. Finally, a repeat of the form of Iverain's second over these fences in May would give him a chance. Overall, though, we will just side with Melford.
Almost Broke 5-2jt-fav (11-12) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, led before next, ridden and idled flat, held on towards finish, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Apr beating Powder Creek (11-1) by a nk, 8 ran.
Halexy (FR) 3-1 (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 8th, hampered 12th, soon lost place, went moderate 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Il'Athou (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Whereareyounow (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up, some headway when mistake 11th, ridden and no impression from 4 out, 5th of 17, well behind Ross Comm (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Oct.
Il'athou (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Made all and jumped well, held on gamely, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft beating Aristoxene (11-12) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Better Days (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, no impression when blundered last, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Mister Arjay (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Oct.
Wain Mountain 25-1 (10-11) In touch until 7th, no danger after, 8th of 30, 19l behind Cregg House (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs in Apr.
Be My Better Half (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Not fluent, held up, mistake 7th and next, hit 13th, blundered 4 out, headway from 2 out, left disputing 2nd last, closed run-in, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Schuh Shine (10-10) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs.
Cobbet (CHR) 8-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden when hampered 7th, behind and weakened 4 out, 5th of 10, 20l behind Armaturk (11-12) at Lingfield 2m lst hcp chs (A) gd in Oct.
Ebony Light (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Led, headed 10th, outpaced 12th, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 17, 30l behind Ross Comm (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Oct.
Benrajah (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Prominent, lost place 9th, no danger after, 4th of 9, 30l behind Il'Athou (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Hakim (NZ) 5-2 (11-7) Made all, clear until 4th, reminders approaching 4 out, driven along from after 3 out, stayed on gamely, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Oct beating Thalys (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Melford (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Patiently ridden, held up in touch, took closer order approaching 3 out, led flat, edged left towards finish, stayed on gamely, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct beating Pass Me By (11-12) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Tanterari (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, ridden and struggling 12th, tailed off, 6th of 15, 45l behind Native Daisy (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Apr.
Ulusaba 10-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, struggling halfway, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Miss Mattie Ross (9-10) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs, 11 ran.
Tribal King (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Chased leader, led 4th, ridden and headed 13th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 16l behind Black De Bessy (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Rocking Ship (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Led, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, headed and dropped to 3rd last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Karlo (11-2) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp chs 0-123 frm in Sept.
Shannon's Pride (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Always prominent, went 2nd 10th, ridden and effort 4 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 23l behind Ross Comm (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Oct.
Fiori 8-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place 7th, effort 12th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 33l behind Il'Athou (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Roschal (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Held up in mid-division, ridden and every chance 4 out, hit 4 out, not recover, 10th of 13, 38l behind Black De Bessy (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Tipsy Mouse (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Prominent, ridden after 15th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 10l behind Luneray (11-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Cassia Heights 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 11th, left 2nd 12th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 7th of 9, 37l behind Il'Athou (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Iverain (FR) 9-2 (10-9) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, chance last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Catch The Perk (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Oct.
Soeur Fontenail (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, led after 8th, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Fair Prospect (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Oct.
