chased leaders, ridden approaching last, kept on run-in, took 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
held up, steady headway on inside approaching 9th, chased leaders 13th, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
never fluent, last pair, blundered 11th, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 11th, no chance when blundered badly 2 out
chased leader, led 3rd until 10th, chased leader until led again 13th, strongly pressed from 2 out, soon ridden, held on gamely
led until jumped slowly 3rd, chased leader, led again 10th until 13th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out
held up, headway approaching 15th, driven along chasing leaders before 2 out, outpaced before the last, stayed on again run-in
mistakes, hit 1st and mistake 11th, weakened next
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 15th, driven along in 6th before 2 out, faded
mid-division, headway tracking leaders before 15th, keeping on in 3rd and every chance when hit last, weakened run-in
mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 10th, blundered badly 12th and pulled up
chased leaders, went 2nd 16th, pushed along challenging 2 out, soon driven, every chance last, kept on until no extra and lost 2nd towards finish
held up, mistake 5th, pushed along and struggling 15th, never on terms
Nonrunner
This looks wide-open but it's hard to knock HOUBLON DES OBEAUX's record in the race. He won it in 2013 and was second to The Young Master 12 months ago when 11lb higher in the weights. He did finish behind Fingal Bay and The Giant Bolster in last month's Hennessy at Newbury but is much better going right-handed and should be prominent again. The Young Master unseated Sam Waley-Cohen at the first in the Hennessy but that was a rare failure, though he's 17lb worse off with last year's second. Pendra had Fox Appeal, Virak and the selection behind over course and distance in October but the ground was much faster that day and he's also 7lb higher. Virak has sunbsequently run Wakanda close in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and can reverse the placings on better terms. Ma Filleule and wouldn't be without a chance on their best form and Salubrious has won both starts so far over fences, though would need to take a further step forward to complete the hat-trick.
Virak (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, every chance last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Wakanda (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Ma Filleule (FR) 3-1fav (11-8) Led until 1st, tracked leaders, 2nd 3 out, every chance last, ridden and lost 2nd run-in, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Royal Guardsman (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Unioniste (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 11th, behind from 15th, 8th of 17, dist behind Highland Lodge (10-0) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, 3rd 2 out, ridden and one pace between last two, soon dropped to 4th, went 3rd again towards finish, 3rd of 15, 6 1/4l behind Pendra (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Wakanda (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) With leader, led 12th to 5 out, led again before next, kept on well under pressure from 2 out, ridden flat, held on well, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov beating Virak (11-12) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Jumped slowly 8th, always towards rear, tailed off when mistake 4 out, never involved, 9th of 15, dist behind Smad Place (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
The Young Master 10-1 (10-13) Blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
The Giant Bolster 33-1 (11-5) Led until 3rd, stayed front rank, weakened 2 out, 7th of 15, 29 1/2l behind Smad Place (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Salubrious (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up in rear but in touch, left in 4th at 10th, smooth headway 5 out, led approaching last, hard pressed closing stages, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 3m (2) hvy in Nov beating Masters Hill (11-10) by nk, 5 ran.
Pendra (IRE) 11-2fav (10-7) Chased leaders, 2nd before 2 out, led after 2 out, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct beating Double Ross (11-3) by 3 1/4l, 15 ran.
Katenko (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Towards rear, dropped to rear and struggling 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Fingal Bay (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, led 3rd until 9th, chased winner, hit 14th, pushed along before 3 out, no impression before next, lost 2nd and blundered last, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 15, 21 1/4l behind Smad Place (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Gullinbursti (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led, not fluent 4th or 12th, headed 15th, no chance with winner from 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Menorah (11-10) at Sandown 2m 6f lst (1) gs in Apr.
Seefood (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 20, 37 1/4l behind Rogue Angel (11-2) at Galway 2m 7f hcp Yielding in Jul.
