held up, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well to lead final 100 yards
held up mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace from 2 out
in touch, reminders 10th, weakened 12th, lost touch and behind when pulled up before 15th
held up towards rear, headway 16th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, chasing leader and weakened after 2 out
in rear, mistake 7th and 14th, some progress 4 out, ridden and held when unseated rider 2 out
led and set good pace, ridden 3 out, 4 lengths clear approaching last, fading when headed final 100 yards
in touch, ridden 16th, weakened next
tracked leaders, hit 11th, weakening when mistake 18th, hampered and refused last
tracked leader and mistakes, blundered badly 13th, pulled up soon after
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
always in the rear, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, closer order 11th, mistake next, ridden to chase leader when mistake 3 out, weakened next
Le Duc lost no caste in defeat in the Becher Chase at Aintree last time and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has to be respected on that evidence but a 2lb rise since then looks harsh and preference is for Willie John Daly, who gets the vote ahead of Joaaci and Fork Lightning. The last mentioned was good value for his success here at the festival in the National Hunt Chase and is entitled to come on for his reappearance back here last month. Tribal Venture gave signs of a return to form at Doncaster last time, while Run For Paddy ran up to his mark in the Hennessy but does seem plenty high enough in the weights now. Lord of Illusion disappointed in the Newbury spectacular and can be given a chance on the pick of his form although more solid claims are probably held by Martin Pipe's lightly raced Joaaci, who could be anything. Willie John Daly was good value for his defeat of thorough stayer Brave Spirit at Sandown last time though and is taken to defy a 3lb rise since then.
Joaaci (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, some headway 12th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakening when not fluent 3 out, behind when fell 2 out fell 3 out in race won by Bunratty Castle (11-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Fork Lightning (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, chased winner 4 out, mistake next, jumped right and mistake 2 out, no chance after, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Royal Auclair (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Dec.
Nil Desperandum (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up, behind from 18th, never dangerous, 9th of 19, well behind Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Nov.
Run For Paddy 40-1 (10-13) Held up and behind, hampered 16th, jumped left 3 out, headway after 2 out, stayed on, never near to challenge, 7th of 19, 9l behind Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov.
Le Duc (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 17th (Valentines), ridden and every chance last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 19, 3/4l behind Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Nov.
Lord of Illusion (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Led to 5 out, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 19, well behind Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov.
Longshanks 9-1 (10-0) Behind and mistakes, took keen hold, outpaced 15th, weakened 6 out, 6th of 20, 34l behind Joes Edge (9-11) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Apr.
Tribal Venture (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Led, blundered and headed 12th, soon outpaced, ridden 3 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind You're Special (10-9) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Willie John Daly (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, pressed by runner up after, idled in front from last, just held on, all out, won at Sandown 3m 5f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Dec beating Brave Spirit (10-8) by a shd, 5 ran.
Holy Joe (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led briefly after 12th, disputing close 3rd when slid to a halt 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Too Forward (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Exit Swinger (FR) 50-1 (10-5) Never going well in rear, ridden and struggling 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Royal Auclair (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Gingerbread House (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 9th, blundered next and fell at the 13th in race won by Silver Knight (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
Va Vavoom (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, ridden and hung left after 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 15l behind Nadover (10-7) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (D) hvy in Dec.
