tracked leaders, mistake 5th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat
raced keenly, tracked leaders on outside, led narrowly 7th, not fluent next, hit 5 out, soon headed, lost place when not fluent next, no extra, weakened 2 out, tailed off
always in rear, lost touch 8th, continued well tailed off
led or disputed lead, led after 5 out, headed after next, ridden and well held in 3rd from 2 out
led or disputed lead to 8th, tracked leaders, driven to challenge 4 out, soon led and ridden, headed 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner from last
tracked leaders to 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
An exciting, informative contest in the novice chase sphere with BORN SURVIVOR (NAP) taken to make the most of the 7lb received from the three above him on the racecard. He really impressed on chasing bow at Wetherby, shouldn't be troubled by the step-up in trip and was travelling on the bit when falling late on at Kelso when last encountering heavy ground. He's an attractive recruit to fences and is just preferred to Clan Des Obeaux. The latter has the edge in chasing experience but the concession of 7lbs in this ground sees the Skelton inmate preferred. Cyrus Darius remains fascinating after injury problems but this looks harder than his winning chase bow latest. The rest cannot be discounted with Vintage Clouds making most appeal of the trio.
Clan Des Obeaux (FR) 5-4 (11-9) Raced keenly on final circuit, led, reached for 9th, quickened before 3 out, 2 lengths ahead next, ridden and headed when pecked on landing last, kept on run-in, always held, last of 2, 1/2l behind Whisper (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Cyrus Darius 5-2fav (11-11) In rear, headway 11th and mistake, hit next, went 3rd before 4 out, ridden after last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Arctic Gold (11-4) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Seldom Inn 20-1 (11-9) Always behind, lost touch 14th, pulled up before 17th, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Born Survivor (IRE) 4-6fav (11-1) Made all, jumped well apart from 9th, clear 3 out, easily, won at Wetherby 1m 7f (3) sft in Nov beating The Nipper (10-8) by 11l, 4 ran.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Always prominent, ridden to lead turning into straight, drew clear well before omitted last, stayed on strongly (all fences in home straight omitted, low sun), won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Lovely Job (11-8) by 18l, 9 ran.
Big River (IRE) 11-5 (11-0) Tracked leader, hampered and left in lead after 2nd, headed before 6th, led again before 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Kelso 2m 7f (4) gd in Oct beating Acdc (11-0) by 11l, 5 ran.
