led to 4th, led after 5th, headed 6th, ridden to lead again approaching 2 out, headed before last, not clear run on inside and switched right towards finish, stayed on
held up, headway 4th, led 6th, headed approaching 2 out, led again before last, headed last strides
reluctant to race, slowly away, held up, pushed along approaching 6th, struggling when mistake 7th, soon behind, tailed off
held up, behind from 6th, tailed off
held up, headway when blundered 8th, ridden from 4 out, beaten 2 out, soon edged right
held up, headway 5th, challenged going well 2 out, shaken up, switched left flat, ridden to lead last strides
prominent, led 4th, headed after next, ridden and weakened from 3 out
tracked leader to 3rd, remained prominent, weakened approaching 2 out
Coach Lane can reverse Wincanton form with Letalus with Tanikos another well worth considering although, in truth, there's little between this tightly packed field. Letalus ran on gamely to record his first chase win on Boxing Day with Coach Lane just over 4 lengths back in third, Brave Villa an eleven length fifth and Offemont a well beaten seventh. He's open to improvement after just six starts over hurdles and fences but Coach Lane has a 7lb swing and can exact revenge. Today's going is likely to be more testing than that encountered at Wincanton which will ideally suit the Venetia Williams trained gelding and he should go close. Almaydan is no more than fairly treated, Tanikos has ability but is hard to catch right and Ormello probably needs to improve again. In an open contest the vote, therefore, goes to Coach Lane.
Almaydan 14-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Calatagan (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Dec.
Tanikos (FR) 66-1 (10-0) Hit 7th, always in rear, 13th of 23, 29l behind Andreas (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Offemont (FR) 15-2 (11-11) Towards rear, landed 1st, chased leader and hit 7th, weakening when mistake 8th, 7th of 8, well behind Letalus (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Ormello (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, one pace, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Almaydan (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Coach Lane 2-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led 3 out, headed soon after last, no extra, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Letalus (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Letalus (GER) 15-2 (11-2) In touch, smooth headway 4 out, challenged and jumped left 3 out, with leaders 2 out, led soon after last, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Roofing Spirit (11-2) by 2l, 8 ran.
Brave Villa (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden headway approaching 4 out, one pace, 5th of 8, 11l behind Letalus (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Arumun (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden after 3 out, no impression, 9th of 11, 15l behind Oh Crick (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs.
