soon tracking leaders, led 5 out, 2 lengths clear when hit last, hard ridden and headed last strides
held up towards rear, behind when pulled up 3 out
always behind, pulled up 5 out
held up mid-division, hit 13th, soon under pressure, behind when pulled up 4 out
mid-division, unseated rider 13th
held up in touch, chased leaders after 17th, every chance next, weakened before 2 out
always behind
led, ridden and headed 5 out, soon faded
held up in rear, never jumped well, pulled up 15th
tracked leaders, slow and lost place 1st, behind when pulled up before 7th
held up in touch, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up before 16th
mid-division, behind when pulled up 15th
tracked leaders, ridden before 18th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out
in touch, reminders and headway before 18th, soon every chance, hard ridden last, stayed on strongly to lead close home
behind, headway 3 out, stayed on, never able to challenge
held up mid-division, mistake 13th, headway 18th, soon chasing leaders, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, stumbled and unseated rider after 11th
tracked leader, lost place 13th, soon beaten
Nonrunner
Halcon Genelardais is selected to take the race for the second year in succession; Gungadu, Dream Alliance and Over The Creek join his stablemate Not Left Yet on the shortlist. The selection has taken the same route this season as last year and whilst he has never won off a mark this high, there is no reason that his progression cannot continue this season as he is a lightly-raced seven-year-old. The stable obviously know what it takes to win this race, and having run an eye-catching race over hurdles last time, Halcon Genelardais can return to winning ways and be the first horse since Bonanza Boy to land back-to-back renewals. David Pipe has a lively pair in recent winners Not Left Yet and Over The Creek. The last named won well at Cheltenham last time and his penalty means that he sneaks in near the bottom of the weights, whilst Not Left Yet could run a big race here before a possible crack at the Grand National. The 2005 winner L'Aventure is back in the race and needs respect off his light-weight, whilst Naunton Brook and Baron Windrush have claims for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. Sir Rembrandt won well at Cheltenham two starts back, whilst Dream Alliance's recent second to the machine that is Denman puts him firmly in the frame if he stays. Gungadu has won at the track before and looks one to do very well in the big staying races this year. Miko De Beauchene doesn't have the greatest of strike-rate's but he does stay well and Robert Alner's gelding needs respect as he has been aimed at this race for some time. He should have improved for his hurdles run and must enter calculations, however it is Halcon Genelardais who can win once again.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 17-2 (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway after 8th, stayed on from last, 3rd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Millenium Royal (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Juveigneur (FR) 33-1 (11-3) In mid-division until blundered and lost place 16th, stayed on again from 2 out, kept on run-in, 6th of 18, 26l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Behind, blundered 12th, tailed off when jumped right 16th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs, 18 ran.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Led, joined 8th, narrowly headed 14th, chased winner to 16th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 18, 28l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Idle Talk (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Close up, led 8th to 10th, weaknened 3 out, 8th of 15, 33l behind Harmony Brig (10-12) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Gungadu 4-6fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Sonnyanjoe (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, lost touch 15th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Over The Creek (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd, 16 ran.
Naunton Brook 20-1 (11-10) In touch, reminders 7th, soon lost place, no danger after, 10th of 15, well behind Harmony Brig (10-12) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Dream Alliance 16-1 (10-7) Always prominent, chased winner from 16th, never any chance from 4 out, kept on well for 2nd, blundered last, 2nd of 18, 11l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Baron Windrush 22-1 (10-12) Mid-division, blundered badly 8th, not recover and behind when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Over The Creek (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd, 16 ran.
Homer Wells (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 16, 42l behind Royal County Star (10-0) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 gs in Nov.
Fair Question (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Led until blundered 16th, no chance after, 4th of 5, 24l behind Turko (11-11) at Sandown 3m Grad Ch (2) gs.
Preacher Boy 5-1 (11-12) Made most to 8th, chased leaders until weakened 13th, 7th of 9, 33l behind Officier De Reserve (11-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, every chance 3 out, chased winner next, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 20, 3l behind Eden Linty (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Over The Creek 6-1fav (10-4) In touch, joined leader 17th, led after 3 out, soon ridden, idled and hung right 2 out, driven out flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd beating Simon (11-7) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Geeveem (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 18th, shaken up approaching 4 out, pushed along to lead 3 out, ridden last, readily, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Nykel (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway 7th, chased leader 8th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd beating Chico Time (10-4) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
L'Aventure (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Mid-division until dropped rear 8th, lost touch 14th, 8th of 10, 45l behind Sir Rembrandt (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Flintoff (USA) 7-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden after 7th, soon weakened and pulled up at the last in race won by Raslan (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs, 11 ran.
Korelo (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, tailed off 6th and pulled up at the 14th in race won by Geeveem (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
