always prominent, led 5 out, driven after 2 out, ridden out flat, held on well
held up in touch, mistake 8th, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden after 2 out, disputed 2nd last, kept on flat, not reach winner
tracked leaders, driven 3 out, ridden to chase winner after next, kept on under pressure flat, always just held
tracked leaders lost place 9th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
held up in touch, pushed along from 10th, never on terms, weakened from 2 out
led, headed 5 out, hit next, soon outpaced, ridden and no impression from 2 out
held up in rear, headway on outside after 5 out, driven to chase winner briefly when edged left 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression before last
tracked leaders on outside, effort 3 out, lost place next, ridden and weakened before last
Javert doesn’t stand much racing but is clearly useful. Cloudy Dream was beaten under a length in this last year when trained by the late Malcolm Jefferson. Now with Donald McCain, he’ll be fancied to go one better but he’s struggled to get his head in front lately. VOIX D’EAU is race-fit and in good form so gets a tentative vote ahead of Theo and Value At Risk, who is potentially well treated. Frodon has a touch of class but Flying Angel has struggled since beating Cloudy Dream in a Grade 1 novice event over these fences in April of last year. Templehills will be an outsider but he’s won two of his last three with his one failure coming over a trip too far.
Frodon (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Led early, prominent, not fluent 8th, chasing leaders on inside when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 28 1/2l behind Traffic Fluide (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Cloudy Dream (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up in 4th, closed on inside 10th, shaken up and beaten in last after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Politologue (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Javert (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, effort on inside after 4 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well from last, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Crievehill (11-11) by 2l, 13 ran.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Led, pressed from 2 out, headed narrowly run-in, kept on to regain lead towards finish, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Too Many Diamonds (11-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Flying Angel (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 13th (valentines), outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 27, dist behind Ultragold (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Templehills (IRE) 8-11fav (12-2) Not always fluent, made all, clear 2 out, comfortably, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Rear Admiral (11-3) by 11l, 3 ran.
Theo (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led 3 out, hit next, clear when not fluent last, driven out, won at Worcester 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep beating Dinsdale (10-10) by 6l, 4 ran.
Value At Risk 5-1 (10-11) Always prominent on outside, led 5 out, driven clear after 2 out, ridden after last, kept on when pressed flat, held on towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr beating Sizing Platinum (11-11) by 1l, 12 ran.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Chased leaders until ridden and lost place after 3 out, 9th of 16, 15 1/2l behind Traffic Fluide (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
