held up well in touch in 5th, chased leading pair 16th, 2nd and challenged next, stayed upsides and every chance until not fluent 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, no extra in 3rd before last
held up towards rear until brought down 4th
mid-division, pushed along in 6th one pace and no chance with leaders from 3 out
took keen hold, in touch when fell 4th
blunderd 1st, always in rear, hampered 4th, pecked 10th, tailed off from 15th
never really travelled in rear, ridden and struggling 16th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
chased leaders, blundered 2nd and 7th, went 2nd 11th (water) until 16th, close up and hit 17th, stayed on same pace and no chance with leaders from next
not fluent 1st, blundered 2nd, raced in mid-division, ridden along 12th, lost place and towards rear 16th, hit 17th, stayed on from 2 out, kept on well flat to close on 3rd close home
took keen hold, chased leader until 11th(water), went 2nd again 16th, led narrowly 17th, soon joined, hit 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on very gamely under pressure flat
towards rear, headway approaching 17th, never reached leaders and no impression from next, tailed off, mistake last
held up in mid-division, steady headway 16th, disputing 4th when blundered 17th, chased leading pair 3 out, stayed on to chase winner from soon after 2 out, driven and stayed on flat, always held
towards rear, tailed off when went right 14th, pulled up after next
behind until fell 3rd
led and tended to jump right, mistake and headed 17th, stayed in 3rd until weakened soon after 3 out, fell last
chased leading pair, pushed along in 4th after 17th, stayed don same pace from 3 out
mistakes in rear, hampered 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 7th
behind, tailed off and struggling when blundered 4 out, pulled up soon after
mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off
DENMAN carried 11st 12lb when winning this in 2007 and again last year so the weight should not be a burden for the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and the 10-year-old can win his third Hennessy before trying to reclaim the crown at Prestbury Park. Paul Nicholls is also represented by Neptune Collonges, Taranis, The Tother One and Niche Market with the first mentioned of the quartet making most appeal. Diamond Harry is better than he showed in the RSA Chase on his most recent start and could be of interest with Nick Williams having his team in good heart, while Weird Al comes here on the back of having dead-heated with Little Josh and has to be respected. Nicky Henderson's runners always have to be considered and Burton Port is no exception, while Carlisle first and second Hey Big Spender and Big Fella Thanks are others worthy of a mention.
Denman (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Prominent, ran in snatches and niggled along from early, jumped left 7th, wide before next, hung badly left before 4 out and lost place, ridden into 5th before 2 out, soon 4th and kept on same pace from before last, 4th of 11, 6l behind Planet Of Sound (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Neptune Collonges (FR) 15-2 (11-10) Led until 8th, hit next, led 12th, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, headed after next, one pace after, 4th of 16, 22l behind Kauto Star (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Mar '09.
Taranis (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Tendency to jump right, held up behind leaders, headway going well 4 out, chased leading pair 3 out, led on bit 2 out, jumped right last, kept on well to assert final 100 yards, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Carruthers (11-6) by 6l, 7 ran.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Led, ridden approaching 3 out, joined 2 out, headed before last, switched left flat, unable to quicken, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Mr Hudson (10-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hdl (3) sft.
Silver By Nature 7-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 4 out, soon clear, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb beating Our Vic (11-9) by 15l, 14 ran.
Barbers Shop 4-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, tried to close when hesitant at fences from 11th until 14th, soon ridden and lost place, well beaten when mistake 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Nacarat (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Carruthers 7-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 11th, ridden to challenge 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 13, 24l behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
The Tother One (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 12th, driven along after 13th, stayed on under pressure to chase winner last, no impression, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Nacarat (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Diamond Harry 5-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, not fluent, mistake 6th, lost place after 4 out, soon weakened, eased, pulled up before last, in a race won by Weapon's Amnesty (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Weird Al (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) In touch, chased leader from 9th, ridden after 2 out, kept on to join leader on line, won at Carlisle 2m 4f int chs (2) sft in Oct deadheating with Little Josh (11-4), 5 ran.
Burton Port (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 11th, led after 2 out, clear approaching last, won at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr beating Dance Island (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Dream Alliance 16-1 (11-3) In touch, lost place when mistake 16 (water), behind when pulled up after 24th, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Big Fella Thanks 5-1 (11-10) Held up in rear and keen, hit 4 out, headway next, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, headed final 150 yards, no extra, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Hey Big Spender (11-10) at Carlisle 3m grad ch (2) hvy.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Tracked leader and keen, hit 8th, joined leader 4 out, led next, hit and headed 2 out, ridden approaching last, rallied run-in, led final 150 yards, driven out, won at Carlisle 3m grad ch (2) hvy beating Big Fella Thanks (11-10) by 1l, 5 ran.
Niche Market (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) Well in touch when blundered and fell 12th, in a race won by Meanus Dandy (9-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd, 14 ran.
Pandorama (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, headway in 5th 3 out, 3rd 2 out, soon challenged, led entering straight, ridden and strongly pressed before last, headed after last, rallied well to lead and dispute run-in, prevailed last strides, won at Leopardstown 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) in Dec beating Weapon's Amnesty (11-10) by shd, 9 ran.
Razor Royale (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off, 11th of 17, well behind Midnight Chase (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
Hills Of Aran 33-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, reminder 6th, lost place next, weakened 4 out, 5th of 18, 30l behind Grands Crus (10-10) at Haydock 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs.
China Rock (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute 9th, led before 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, under pressure in 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, just held for 2nd, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Kauto Star (11-10) at Down Royal 3m chs G1 (1) sft.
