tracked leader to 5th, settled 3rd, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, 1 length ahead last, driven out
led, still going well when not fluent and headed 3 out, stayed challenging until held final 100 yards
always last, hit 17th, soon no chance
raced in 3rd, went 2nd and not fluent 5th, challenged from 12th until mistake 4 out, soon outpaced by front pair
The Listener looked a high class recruit to the novice chasing ranks last season until falling on his last two starts, latterly in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, and it remains to be seen how that will have affected his confidence so a safer bet looks to be Star de Mohaison, who gets the vote ahead of Zabenz. The last mentioned is a capable performer but is held by the selection on form last season so is hard to recommend with confidence, while Lord Killeshanra similarly has plenty to find with the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding. Star de Mohaison, who won the Royal & SunAlliance in good fashion confirmed his well-being with an emphatic performance back over hurdles at Cheltenham last month and is taken to make a winning return to chasing here.
Star De Mohaison (FR) 6-4fav (10-6) Raced wide throughout, always prominent, led 6th to 9th, regained lead 2 out, went left last, driven out and stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov beating Jockser (10-0) by 8l, 17 ran.
The Listener (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hit 1st, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, headway after 14th, outpaced approaching 3 out, sixth and beaten when fell 2 out in race won by Star De Mohaison (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar, 15 ra.
Lord Killeshanra (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 12th, 4 lengths fifth when blundered 4 out, struggling approaching 3 out, hampered 2 out, 4th of 15, 21l behind Star De Mohaison (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Zabenz (NZ) 8-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, kept on, no chance with winner from next, 2nd of 11, 7l behind See You Sometime (10-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Oct.
