chased leader, led 2nd until 4th, chased leader until 4 out and soon outpaced, rallied and disputing 3 lengths 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
took keen hold, held up, headway to dispute 3rd 10th, hit 3 out and driven, went 2nd soon after 2 out, no impression
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, clear after 2 out, eased near finish
chased leading trio, blundered badly 5th, not fluent next, mistake and ridden 8th, last and struggling 10th, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off
hit 1st, led until 2nd, led 4th, hit 12th and ridden, pushed along and headed 3 out, weakened next
A decent contest and a likely duel in prospect, where DUC DE REGNIERE is given the vote ahead of Big Fella Thanks. There is only officially 1lb between the pair of them, and Nicky Henderson's Duc De Regniere has decent claims. Already a three-time winner over course and distance, one being over fences, he acts well with cut in the ground and will probably want a tow around before being produced in the final half-mile. A recent spin over hurdles will have him straight for today and he looks likely to be good enough. Big Fella Thanks is marginally favoured at the weights, but this drop back to 2m 5f does not appear ideal for Paul Nicholls' runner, who is entered in both the Racing Post Chase, here over three miles, and the Grand National. He was clearly in need of his first run of the campaign when beaten by Carruthers at Newbury, and the ground will suit, though this does have the look of another prep race for bigger targets to come. Of the remainder, Roman Conquest showed a fair bit of ability behind The Hollinwell at Warwick last time and trip and ground suit, so the Seamus Mullins inmate looks likely to emerge next best, unless first-time blinkers lift Double Dizzy to something special over this inadequate trip. Duc De Regniere is taken to score.
Big Fella Thanks 11-4 (11-7) Raced in 4th, hit 6th and 10th, went 3rd 4 out, chased winner 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, 2nd of 5, 23l behind Carruthers (11-7) at Newbury 3m grad ch (2) hvy in Dec.
Double Dizzy 11-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, 5th and pushed along approaching 12th, weakened and not on terms from 5 out, tailed off, 4th of 15, 28l behind Richard's Sundance (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Duc De Regniere (FR) 9-2fav (11-5) Raced wide, held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on into well, held 2nd when mistake last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Micheal Flips (10-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Offaly (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Prominent early, lost place before halfway, pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Notre Pere (11-7) at Navan 3m hcp chs hvy in Nov '08, 15 ran.
Roman Conquest 6-1 (10-12) Not fluent early, led to 2nd, left chasing winner 9th until bad mistake next, raced in third after until again chased winner 2 out, stayed on flat, always held, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind The Hollinwell (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f nov stks (3) sft in Jan.
