led, headed approaching 6th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 8th
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, gradually weakened
with leader, led after 5th, headed next, led again before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely
prominent, under pressure 8th, weakened after next
always behind, tailed off before 3 out
held up in rear when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
pushed along in mid-division, hard driven approaching 6th, mistake 8th, soon lost place, rallied before 2nd last, ran on to take 3rd close home
held up towards rear, headway before 6th, soon outpaced, headway after 3 out, never able to challenge
held up in touch, joined leader after 5th, led next, headed approaching 2nd last, hard ridden and kept on gamely
held up in rear, effort 7th, soon under pressure and beaten
Nonrunner
Nycteos looks the pick of the two runners in the race trained by Paul Nicholls ahead of Elusive Dream but he unseated Ruby Walsh at the second flight on his reappearance and may be best watched with doubts continuing over his jumping with a better bet looking to be ALDERLUCK. Nick Gifford's gelding is less exposed than most of these after just seven career starts and, having made a highly encouraging reappearance run when a close second behind Trenchant at Kempton, he looks worth siding with on ground that suits despite a 5lb rise. David Pipe's Over The Creek comes back after a long absence but the lack of a recent run need not be of concern with the yard having their runners in good form but he is probably better over fences and may be best left out of calculations. Stable companion Mous Of Men was good value for his win here in April when last seen and has to be respected off a nice racing weight. Magnifico will relish the underfoot conditions but another 6lb rise since his latest effort when second to My Friend Sandy last month looks harsh and preference is for Alderluck.
Labelthou (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened quickly before next, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Duc De Regniere (11-0) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Nov '08.
Elusive Dream 11-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out, 6th of 8, 41l behind Zaynar (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) gd in Nov.
Ballyfitz 14-1 (10-0) Behind, blundered 3rd, 9th and 10th, tailed off after 11th and pulled up approaching 13th, in a race won by Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 19 ran.
Silverburn (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Led until 3rd, led 7th until next, weakened quickly approaching 12th, blundered 13th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Something Wells (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Over The Creek 7-1 (12-0) Towards rear, headway on bit 4 out, led briefly approaching last, soon ridden and no impression, 2nd of 20, 7l behind Old Benny (11-7) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gs in Mar '08.
Nycteos (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, stumbled and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Silk Affair (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mistake 3rd, always in rear, 14th of 17, well behind Wolf Moon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Alderluck (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 3 out, slightly impeded when went 2nd flat, closed on winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 13, nk behind Trenchant (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Nov.
South O'The Border 12-1 (11-12) In touch, until riddenand lost place after 5th, still well behind 3 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on into poor 3rd last strides, 3rd of 12, 20l behind Dontpaytheferryman (9-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Mous Of Men (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr '08 beating Mexican Pete (11-3) by 3l, 17 ran.
Magnifico (FR) 4-1fav (11-0) Pressed leader, led approaching 2nd, made most after that until headed approaching 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on well towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 9, nk behind My Friend Sandy (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
