made most, hit 4th and 10th, ridden approaching last, hung badly left flat, kept on gamely
held up in touch, headway to join leaders and slipped 3 out, chased winner next, every chance last, hung left soon after, all out and no extra
in touch, headway to join leaders 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out
in rear, mistake 6th, not fluent next, lost touch and pulled up before 8th
always in rear, lost touch from 9th
with leader, hit 7th, ridden 3 out, weakening when mistake approaching 2 out, jumped left last
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
Denman has always been held in high regard by trainer Paul Nicholls and did everything asked of him when making a winning chasing debut over a seemingly inadequate trip at Exeter last month, a success that he can only build on and the six-year-old is taken to follow up here at the main expense of Don't Push It and Il Duce. The last mentioned has taken well to the larger obstacles and has to be respected but he lacks the ability of the selection and may be booked for a place at best. Snakebite represents the very much in form yard of Carl Llewellyn but looks to be too highly tried here, while Nicky Henderson's Wogan should improve for being switched to the larger obstacles but may need further to show his best form. A bigger threat is likely to come from Jonjo O'Neill's Don't Push It, who has been put over fences very early on in his career and has already shown a liking for the larger obstacles but Denman is potentially top class and is hard to oppose.
Denman (IRE) 1-3fav (10-12) Led 3rd, hard pressed when mistake and headed 4 out, led next, hung left approaching last, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Oct beating Penzance (11-4) by 10l, 6 ran.
Don't Push It (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Raced keenly, held up, headway after 11th, challenged going well 3 out, led just before 2 out, easily, won at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Oct beating Regents Walk (11-0) by 6l, 12 ran.
Il Duce (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, outpaced and mistake 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Turko (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Clearly Oscar (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, trailing and no danger from next, last of 20, well behind Abow (10-3) at Galway 2m 2f hacp hdl gs in Sept.
Predicament 100-1 (11-4) Mistake 2nd, always behind, lost touch 5th, well tailed off when blundered 3 out, 5th of 6, well behind Backstage (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Snakebite (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Made most to 2 out, chased winner after, not quicken run-in and lost 2nd near finish, 4th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Killaghy Castle (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
Wogan 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place from 6th, behind 3 out, stayed on under pressure from after 2 out, kept on run-in, not reach leaders, 5th of 17, 5l behind Killaghy Castle (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
