led, clear 7th, headed 11th, chased leader, ridden and weakened 4 out, mistake next, tailed off
in touch, ridden and weakened 11th
chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on flat
held up, headway 9th, went 3rd next, weakened approaching 4 out
in touch, jumped slowly and in rear 9th, headway next, went 2nd 12th, led approaching 2 out and driven 4 lengths clear, idled flat, always holding on
in touch, headway and went prominent 4 out, chased leading pair 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat
held up in rear, steady headway from 11th, went 2nd 3 out, 4 lengths 2nd when hit 2 out, hit last, rallied as winner idled flat, always held
tracked clear leader, closed to lead 11th, driven and headed approaching 2 out, weakened into 5th and no chance when blundered last
Nonrunner
New Little Bric can land this at the expense of Aztec Warrior and Fier Normand. The selection was a high class novice chaser last season winning three from five starts. His highlight was when winning the Scilly Isles Novice chase at Sandown. He disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival when sent off favourite but if fit from a lay off he has to be sided with. Aztec Warrior is another who has his seasonal reappearance. His trainer often leaves her horses in need of a run but this year they are winning first time out so the betting market will be a good guide. Fier Normand was second to Iron Man in a competitive contest at Market Rasen in September. He gets into this race off a handy racing weight and with connections in form he will be one to note. But for the winner we return to New Little Bric.
Yes Sir (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Prominent, left in lead from 9th, edged clear 3 out, headed before 2 out, 5th and no extra after last, 7th of 22, 25l behind Sir Frederick (9-10) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Aug.
Royal Shakespeare (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Held up behind leaders, headway 4 out, soon ridden, chased winner 3 out, held from last, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Pablo Du Charmil (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd.
New Little Bric (FR) 7-2fav (11-10) In touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 19, 12l behind L'Antartique (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Regal Heights (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Held up, 8th 6 out, progress after 4 out, moderate 4th when packed 2 out, kept on, 4th of 11, 22l behind One Cool Cookie (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Howle Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 5th until approaching 6th, ridden 2 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct '06 beating Nous Voila (11-4) by 3l, 7 ran.
Mister Quasimodo 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 7th to 3 out, no chance with winner from next, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Twist Magic (11-9) at Kempton 2m Grad Ch (2) gd.
Fier Normand (FR) 13-2 (10-6) Held up headway 4 out, chased winner 2 out, mistake last, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Iron Man (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Flying Enterprise (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until weakened 4 out, 9th of 19, 18l behind L'Antartique (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Aztec Warrior (IRE) 4-5fav (11-10) Tracked leader, not fluent 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, led soon after last, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gf in Apr beating Which Pocket (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
