Little Bruce looks to have been laid out for this again. He was second in 2019 and successful last year, though Brian Boranha was a close-up third 12 months ago when falling at the last and is 13lb better off. Le Breuil is a dour stayer who has had wind surgery since finishing third in the Becher Chase at Aintree. Late Romantic won a higher grade at Haydock last month and Duc De Grissay had every chance when unseating his rider at the last over 4m at Kelso. CHEF D’OEUVRE looked to be approaching peak fitness when second to a subsequent winner at Wetherby and is well treated on past form which includes a third in a Grade 3.
Le Breuil (FR) 5-1jfav (10-8) Always prominent, led 4th until next, chased leaders, 2nd again 10th, led next, hit 15th (canal turn), headed 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, stayed on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 14, 28 3/4l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-7) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Late Romantic (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Soon chasing leaders, went 2nd 5 out, ridden between last 2, 3 lengths down last, closed on idling/tiring leader to lead near finish, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating The Dutchman (11-2) by hd, 7 ran.
Little Bruce (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Chased winner until 7th, stayed handy, pushed along after 24th, soon lost place, behind from 27th, 7th of 9, dist behind Kingswell Theatre (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Red Infantry (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) In touch, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, ridden and weakened flat, 5th of 15, 14 3/4l behind The Conditional (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Coup De Pinceau (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway next, lost place 6th, closed 7th, mistake 10th, struggling before 12th, blundered when behind 5 out, plugged on from 3 out, 6th of 14, dist behind Amateur (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Duc De Grissay (FR) 5-2fav (10-4) Mid-division, not fluent 16th, headway and stalked leaders 3 out, shaken up to make strong challenge 2 out, pushed along and disputed lead on the run to the last, every chance when fell at the last, at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Chef D'Oeuvre (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Held up, tracked leaders after 5 out, went second before 4 out, soon ridden and no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Nearly Perfect (10-13) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Brian Boranha (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Towards rear of tightly grouped field, headway to land over 4 out in share of 2nd, not quicken with front two 3 out, plugged on but lost 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 18l behind Lough Derg Jewel (11-10) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Classic Escape (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Mid-division, not fluent 15th, pushed along and chased leader 4 out, staying on 3 out, not fluent 2 out, left in clear 2nd at the last, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Dino Boy (10-0) at Kelso 4m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
