towards rear, ridden and headway when mistake 2 out, kept on, never reached leaders
always behind
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden when not much room approaching 2 out, kept on flat
held up, fell 1st
behind, headway approaching 10th, ridden when carried right approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden when carried right approaching 2 out, weakened flat
chased leader to 7th, soon behind
prominent, ridden and every chance when hampered 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, hit 2nd, ridden when blundered 3 out, soon eased
hampered 1st, always towards rear, no chance when fell 2 out
chased leaders, led when blundered and unseated rider 10th
mid-division, headway 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
mid-division, blundered 8th, weakened after next
chased leaders, left in lead 10th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra flat
in touch, headway 8th, switched left approaching 3 out, led and hampered by loose horse approaching 2 out, hampered again approaching last, ridden out
held up and keen, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, stayed on, not trouble winner
mid-division, ridden 9th, soon weakened
mid-division, blundered 8th, soon weakened, before when fell 4 out
towards rear, some headway 2 out, never dangerous
led to 2nd, with leader, led and blundered 9th, soon headed, weakened after 10th
led 2nd to 9th, mistake 10th, soon weakened
always behind
Nicky Henderson will be very keen to win this race name in honour of his late father, and his runners Tysou, Greenhope and Caracciola have to be respected, along with Great Travel, Fota Island, Almaydan, L'Ange Au Ciel, Impek, Flagship Uberalles and Armaturk, with the vote going to Tysou. Starting at the top of the weights and the class, of course, lies at the top end of handicaps and Flagship Uberalles, Impek and Armaturk have served us well over the years, and they still retain plenty of ability and have to be respected as their marks start to fall from their high-class peaks. Caracciola was a useful novice and has been the subject of upbeat home reports. He is potentially well-weighted, although the stable jockey, Mick Fitzgerald, has opted for Tysou. He is closely weighted with Armaturk based on November course form, so he warrants all due consideration, and Paul Nicholls also has a strong hand in the race with L'Ange Au Ciel and Great Travel. Of these, Ruby Walsh has opted for the lightly-raced L'Ange Au Ciel. As they say, he could be anything, while Great Travel has already proven himself as decent in handicap company, although he is now 13 pounds above a winning mark, although his form with Oneway from his revised mark last time has since been given a big boost. Of the others, Almaydan is a smart novice and is also tough, so is worth considering, along with the Irish raider Fota Island, and after the week that they have had, it would be a brave man or woman to dismiss his chances. Overall, then, we will side with Tysou, for whom success would trigger some hugely-emotional scenes.
Armaturk (FR) 33-1 Led until 6th, weakened approaching 9th, no danger after, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Azertyuiop at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Flagship Uberalles (IRE) 16-1 Not fluent, always behind, struggling from 9th, last of 10, 46l behind Well Chief at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Impek (FR) 5-1 Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Oneway at Sandown 2m hcp chs (B) gs in Feb.
Great Travel (FR) 6-5fav Held up, smooth headway from 4 out, led last, ridden and headed flat, one pace, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Oneway at Sandown 2m hcp chs (B) gs in Feb.
Caracciola (GER) 25-1 Held up in rear, mistake 10th, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Le Duc at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gd in Jan, 15 ran.
Bonus Bridge (IRE) 13-2 In touch, ridden and headway to chase leader approaching 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Dec beating Latalomne by 12l, 9 ran.
Master Rex 4-1 Mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, one pace last, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Oneway at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gs in Jan.
Palua 10-1 Always prominent, left in lead 5th, clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Jan beating Argento by 7l, 7 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 12-1 Led and clear until blundered 3rd, headed 3 out, soon weakened, last of 6, 23l behind Oneway at Sandown 2m hcp chs (B) gs in Feb.
L'Ange Au Ciel (FR) 4-1 Tracked clear leaders, closed after 4 out, challenged next, left in lead 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Feb beating Supreme Developer by a nk, 7 ran.
Tango Royal (FR) 25-1 Behind, not fluent 3rd, brief effort under pressure 4 out, soon beaten, 9th of 15, 25l behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Ground Ball (IRE) 9-4fav Always prominent, 2nd from 4th, led travelling well 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed from last, headed close home, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind The Galway Man at Clonmel 2m 4f chs hvy in Feb.
Tysou (FR) 9-1 Held up and keen, headway 8th, challenged from 3 out, led after 2 out, headed after last, one pace flat, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Armaturk at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (B) gd in Nov.
Almaydan 5-6fav Tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden and ran on well, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (C) gd in Jan beating Big Rob by 7l, 6 ran.
Fota Island (IRE) 1-2fav Prominent, mainly 2nd, mistake 5 out, led soon after next, strongly pressed and joined last, headed run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, nk behind Colonel Monroe at Gowran Park 2m nov chs sft in Dec.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 5-2 Held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, close 2nd when fell 5 out in race won by Town Crier at Haydock 2m hcp chs (B) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Atum Re (IRE) 12-1 Chased leader to 8th, ridden 9th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 26l behind Master Rex at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec.
Stormy Lord (IRE) 12-1 Made most, headed briefly run-in, stayed on gamely towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (B) sft beating Through The Rye by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Latalomne (USA) 14-1 With leaders, led 4th to 6th, led again 8th, clear 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Bonus Bridge at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Dec.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 13-8fav Led to 4th, stayed chasing leader, led 11th, hit 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, chased winner until last, one pace flat, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Gazump at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) gs.
Jericho III (FR) 11-2 Disputed clear lead to 7th, hit 8th and next, stayed chasing winner until mistake and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 25l behind L'Ange Au Ciel at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Feb.
Davoski 50-1 Always prominent, took narrow advantage after 2 out, ridden clear from last, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov beating Cigarillo by 7l, 13 ran.