in touch, ridden after 17th, hampered on bend soon after and lost place, stayed on again from 3 out, went 3rd final strides
prominent, led 7th until 12th, pressed leader, ridden approaching 5 out, kept on, soon no extra
chasing leaders when badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division, headway 15th, challenging when not fluent 3 out, led and hit next, stayed on strongly, ridden out
mid-division until 11th, behind from next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 8th and 12th, headway 16th, soon ridden, effort approaching 5 out, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, steady progress from 14th, close up when outpaced after 5 out, stayed on again from 3 out, snatched 2nd final strides
chasing leaders when blundered badly 2nd, soon in rear, steady progress from 12th, ridden approaching 5 out, weakened 3 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
mid-division, struggling 12th, soon behind, pulled up before 5 out
held up towards rear, smooth headway after 17th, 4th when hit 5 out, took narrow advantage briefly 3 out, soon ridden, held when mistake last, lost 2 places final strides
mid-division, headway 15th, mistake 17th, soon ridden, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 13th, weakening when hampered on bend after 17th, pulled up before next
mid-division until after 11th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 18th
chased leaders until 12th, soon struggling, weakened 15th
led 2nd until 7th, led 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, no extra
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway after 17th, never troubled leaders
led until 2nd, chased leaders, ridden approaching 5 out, weakened quickly
always well behind, tailed off
NENUPHAR COLLONGES can land this year's renewal ahead of stablemate Halcon Generlardais and Mon Mome. The last-named is interesting given that Venetia Williams lets him take his chance after a hard-fought Cheltenham success a fortnight ago. He did well to fend off the persistent challenge of the classy Star De Mohaison and second in this race in 2006, a big run looks on the cards. However we prefer Nenuphar Collonges, Alan King's exciting gelding. Having mixed chasing with hurdling last season, his highlight was the Ballymore Properties win at the festival. A dour stayer, he loves soft ground, and because of his stablemate in the race it means that he has a nice weight of ten stone six. Joe Lively won as he liked last time and has claims despite this handicap mark of 155, Darkness ran a blinder on his comeback from injury and is a classy individual, whilst Cornish Sett is not straight-forward but a war of attrition may be his cup of tea. Beat The Boys is held by Joe Lively on their last run but did beat him last season and looks sure to come on for his first run of the season, Gypsy George is improving all the time but this demands more, whilst Kings Euro represents a yard who are on the up but the horse needs to get over a poor final ruin of last season. Always Waining represents one of the top Welsh trainers and is not one to take lightly despite seemingly having a preference for good ground. Miko De Beauchene won this race last year after Halcon Genelardais made a mistake at the last fence, and cannot be too readily overlooked here despite racing off a 17lb higher mark, however with a bit of luck we hope to see Nenuphar Collonges in the winners¿ enclosure.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 4-1 (11-12) In touch, pushed along after 13th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again approaching last, went 2nd run-in, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Joe Lively (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Joe Lively (IRE) 4-1 (10-3) Led 3rd until 18th, soon ridden, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov beating Halcon Genelardais (11-12) by 14l, 10 ran.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Led, hit 7th, headed 4 out, chased winner until not fluent 2 out, one pace after, 7th of 17, 15l behind Ballydub (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Notre Pere (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, headway to challenge 5 out and led, ridden and strongly pressed from after 3 out, kept on well under pressure, won at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 hvy in Nov beating Operation Houdini (9-11) by 1l, 15 ran.
Always Waining (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led before next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Sept beating Breaking Silence (11-4) by 8l, 15 ran.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 10-3jt-fav (11-12) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov beating Obaki de Grissay (10-8) by 2l, 9 ran.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, ridden and headway from 17th, chased leaders 3 out, challenged 2 out, led flat, just held on, won at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov beating Island Flyer (10-9) by a ns, 12 ran.
Mon Mome (FR) 11-2 (10-8) In touch, headway 11th, led after 3 out, soon ridden and hard pressed, stayed on gamely from last, all out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs beating Star De Mohaison (11-12) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Darkness 18-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 4 out, every chance approaching last, weakening when mistake last, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Possol (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Glasker Mill (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up, headway approaching 11th, badly hampered 5 out, weakened after next, 11th of 16, well behind Possol (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
High Chimes (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) In rear, driven and struggling after 17th, hit 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never nearer, 6th of 15, 14l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 9-2fav (11-9) carried out 5 out in race won by Notre Pere (11-7) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 hvy in Nov, 15 ran.
Verasi 40-1 (10-9) In touch, losing place when mistake 13th and pulled up at the 14th in race won by Mon Mome (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs, 15 ran.
Beat The Boys (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders, hit 11th and 17th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, held by winner from next, lost 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Joe Lively (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Gypsy George 11-4 (10-12) Always prominent, chased leader and not fluent 5th, not fluent 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, led just after 2 out, all out, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Starburst Diamond (11-1) by a nk, 10 ran.
Kings Euro (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Led until headed and hit 13th, soon weakened, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Oedipe (10-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 17 ran.
Sherwoods Folly 16-1 (11-3) In touch, mistake 8th, blundered 17th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Sea Diva (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway in 9th entering straight, ridden into 4th before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 6l behind Arbor Supreme (10-8) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs 0-140 sft in Nov.
Beantown (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden and no extra before straight, 4th 3 out and kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 30l behind Nuvelli (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f chs hvy.
Another Rum (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, blundered 4th, lost place from 6th, hit 8th, stayed on to take 4th towards finish, 4th of 8, 41l behind Fundamentalist (11-9) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct.
