led until not fluent 1st, chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
prominent, hit 12th, ridden after 16th, weakened after 3 out
held up, headway 3 out, went 3rd next, soon ridden, kept on same pace
held up, not fluent 14th, ridden after 3 out, no impression until stayed on from last
tracked leaders, ridden after 15th, not in danger from 3 out
mid-division until hampered and dropped rear 3rd, reminders after 7th, lost touch quickly and pulled up before 12th
close up, went 2nd 16th, challenging when carried left 2 out, led last all out
mid-division, mistake 12th, headway 15th, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
jumped left throughout, led after 1st, ridden and headed last, rallied run in, held close home
Hoo La Baloo gets the confident vote Iron Man and Boychuk rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Bleu Superbe over two miles. Granted he has a penalty for that win but he looks sure to improve for the return to this longer trip and under conditions that suit he is taken to defy the handicapper. Iron Man rates the main danger as he beat Fier Normand last time out. However he has yet to win over this trip and looks vulnerable under top weight. Boychuck is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he looks weighted up to his best at present. Full House ran as if in need of the run when third behind Cantabilly last time but he has yet to prove he stays this far. Of the others An Accordion may just need the run after a 280 day break and with this in mind Hoo La Baloo looks the one to be on.
Iron Man (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3 out, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept beating Fier Normand (10-6) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Royal Auclair (FR) 33-1 (11-1) In touch when fell at the 10th in race won by Silver Birch (10-6) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 5-2 (10-9) Soon tracked leader, driven and blundered 2 out, about 4 lengths down last, rallied as leader blundered badly, ran on to lead post, won at Kempton 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct beating Bleu Superbe (10-0) by a hd, 7 ran.
Full House (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Reluctant to line up, held up, raced keenly, headway after 6th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Cantabilly (11-3) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Boychuk (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) In touch, headway and chasing leaders, blundered 3 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Ardaghey (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
An Accordion (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) In touch, hit 8th, tracked leader 3 out,, weakened soon after, left 2nd and blundered last, no chance with winner, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Flying Enterprise (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Harris Bay 13-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 11, 6l behind Felinious (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Briery Fox (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Towards rear when hampered and brought down at the 3rd in race won by Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 29 ran.
Without A Doubt 14-1 (10-6) In touch, weakened from 14th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Reveillez (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
