led until 4th, tracked leader, led 4 out, headed before next, rallied last, stayed on, just failed
took keen hold, tracked leader, led 4th, not fluent and headed 4 out, no extra 3 out
mid-division, headway 4th, every chance 3 out, 3 lengths off winner last, stayed on
prominent, mistake 6th, reminder 11th, not fluent 12th, ridden 13th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, struggling before 9th, pulled up approaching next
held up in rear, mistake 8th, headway 12th, led before 3 out, not fluent when 3 lengths clear last, just held on
held up in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, not fluent next, headway 13th, weakened 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Viva Steve rather ran in snatches when fourth to Gevrey Chambertin at Newbury but had only found one too good in his first two starts over fences and the drop in trip might suit. Arthur's Oak has to go on the short-list as he's sure to have learnt plenty from his fourth at Warwick over an inadequate trip. Tom Neary and Somchine are among the more interesting near the foot of the weights while Neville might do better over the larger obstacles, though was expensive to follow over hurdles. Atlantic Roller didn't show much on his only run over fences last season but will have had plenty of schooling since and should lack nothing in fitness. ROBERTO PEGASUS makes his chasing bow but does so off a potentially lenient mark. He won on soft ground on the Flat so it's worth taking a chance that the nine-year-old will handle conditions.
Call Me Vic (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, mistake and hampered 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Shantou Magic (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Arthur's Oak 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place and not fluent 4th, closed 4 out, 3rd next, mistake 2 out, no impression on leaders, dropped to 4th towards finish, 4th of 9, 15l behind Top Gamble (11-8) at Warwick 2m nov hcap ch (3) sft in Dec.
Atlantic Roller (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, led 8th, headed next, mistake 10th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 50l behind Daymar Bay (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Viva Steve (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, pecked 3rd, outpaced 12th, rallied into modest 4th approaching 2 out, 4th of 10, 17l behind Gevrey Chambertin (11-2) at Newbury 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs in Dec.
Chill (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Tracked leader until 2nd, lost place before 4th, behind next, last of 12, well behind Powerful Action (10-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Somchine 9-2 (10-8) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, went 2nd 4th, mistake 5th, driven before 2 out, lost 2nd last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Cody Wyoming (11-1) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Champagne N Caviar (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Prominent, not fluent 1st, led next, mistake 10th, headed next, no extra from 3 out, 6th of 8, 32l behind Quite By Chance (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f am hcp ch 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Neville 2-1 (10-7) Held up in 4th, headway to track winner 6th, ridden before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 32l behind Kilgeel Hill (10-7) at Leicester 2m 4f 4yo nov stks (4) sft in Dec.
Crazy Jack (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, weaakened from 3 out, 6th of 9, 23l behind Robbie (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Roberto Pegasus (USA) 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden before next, outpaced when switched left between last 2, in touch when mistake last, no impression flat, 4th of 8, 6l behind Sporting Boy (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Tom Neary (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, in touch halfway, outpaced when went left 3 out, went 3rd last, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Pull The Chord (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
