chased leaders, challenged 4 out, every chance 3 out, chased winner 2 out, switched right before last, kept on towards finish
held up towards rear, effort from 5 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear on outer, headway before 11th, led before next, headed before 4 out, weakened soon after
prominent until mistake 1st, soon towards rear, not fluent 6th, weakened from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up behind, pushed along after 7th, headway from 6 out, weakened before 3 out
held up mid-division, headway before 11th, mistake and weakened from 5 out
close up, led 7th, headed before 12th, led again before 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
with leaders, blundered 3rd, not fluent and lost place 4th, weakened from 11th
close up, led before 3 out, kept on well under pressure towards finish
held up towards rear, mistake 13th, struggling and driven when fell 5 out
always towards rear, weakened before 10th, tailed off
led, headed 7th, not fluent 11th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, pushed along after 7th, soon reminders, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
Nonrunner
Calgary Bay won this when it was last staged in 2009 and is only 3lb higher today. Henrietta Knight's eight-year-old has an alternative engagement at Cheltenham but probably wouldn't be far away if rerouted here instead. Tullamore Dew has struggled this term, while The Hollinwell came back to form in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle two weeks ago and Qianshan Leader won at Kempton last month. King Fontaine, Max Bygraves and Star Beat were all pulled up last time, however, and Safari Journey and Chief Dan George have plenty to prove at present. BENNY BE GOOD has to concede weight all round but has improved in leaps and bounds over the last 12 months and was very impressive when landing a Listed handicap at Market Rasen on his latest start over fences. Far from disgraced in a couple of subsequent runs over hurdles, he can defy a new career-high mark.
Benny Be Good 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division in touch, headway 7th, chased leading pair 3 out, went 2nd next, soon ridden, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 20, 8l behind Dynaste (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 4th, headway approaching 12th, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 18, 17l behind Carruthers (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
The Hollinwell 33-1 (10-4) Held up mid-division, ridden after 5 out, headway before 3 out, chased winner last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
King Fontaine (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 10th, pushed along in 6th and held when blundered 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Soprano (9-9) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Safari Journey (USA) 33-1 (11-2) In rear, not fluent and hampered 1st, went left and mistake 4 out, some headway into 7th 3 out, never in contention, 7th of 14, 25l behind Chance Du Roy (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Max Bygraves 16-1 (10-6) In rear, behind 6th (the chair), pulled up before next, in a race won by West End Rocker (10-10) at Aintree 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) hvy, 14 ran.
Bai Zhu (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Prominent, led 4th, headed 8th, led 11th untilapproaching 14th, led after next until after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, jinked left to avoid faller when unseated rider last, in a race won by Swing Bill (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) In touch, hampered 4th, dropped to mid-division next, under pressure 12th, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Always Right (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs (2) sft.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, hit 10th, ridden before last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Inside Dealer (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
War Of The World (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, hit 7th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 39l behind Palace Jester (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Morning Moment 8-1 (11-1) With leader, led 5th, not fluent 16th, ridden before 2 out, edged left between last 2, soon hard pressed, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Neptune Equester (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Star Beat 33-1 (11-7) In touch on outside, reminder 13th, lost place 17th, behind from 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Neptune Equester (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Kellystown Lad (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden and no impression from next, 5th of 10, 23l behind Mohayer (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Prominent, mistake 6th, lost place 12th, well beaten after 4 out, 8th of 20, 39l behind Great Endeavour (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
