held up towards rear, ridden after 17th, lot to do approaching 3 out, stayed on strongly approaching 2 out, went 3rd flat, nearest finish
chased leaders, ridden after 15th, beaten when hampered 3 out
chased leaders, reminder 6th, lost touch from 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, hit 4 out and lost ground, soon ridden, stayed on from 2 out, finished strongly
mid-division, ridden after 17th, beaten when hampered 3 out
always towards rear, lost touch 15th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 17th, left 5th when mistake and hampered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
mid-division, blundered badly 15th, soon ridden, headway after 3 out, stayed on
mid-division, blundered badly 8th, not recover and pulled up after next
prominent, hit 1st, led 8th until 10th, with leader, hit 4 out, soon ridden, close 5th when fell next
led until 8th, led 10th, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before last
in touch, joined leader 17th, led soon after 3 out, soon ridden, idled and hung right from 2 out, driven out
held up towards rear, headway after 17th, hampered 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on
held up behind, ridden and good headway after 3 out, went 3rd after last, stayed on
held up towards rear, headway 17th, close up 4 out, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, close 4th when hit 3 out, one pace from next
Ofarel D'airy was headed in the last stride over course and distance last month and, off the same mark today in a similarly competitive contest, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding gets the vote ahead of Monkerhostin and L'ami. The last mentioned ran a creditable race behind a back to form Sir Rembrandt here last time and Francois Doumen's gelding has to be respected but he may just be a shade high in the weights. Parsons Legacy has been running consistently well but an 8lb rise for his latest effort when third in the Scottish Grand National looks harsh. David Pipe's Over The Creek is unexposed over fences but has more to do than when successful at Hereford last time and of more interest may be Monkerhostin who was highly tried last term ran promisingly on his reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Ofarel D'airy was unfortunate not to collect here last time but is taken to gain ample compensation today.
Monkerhostin (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, headway to go 3rd after 11th, ridden from 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Ollie Magern (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Nov.
L'ami (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Not fluent 1st, held up, mistake 9th, some headway under pressure approaching 3 on, stayed on to go 2nd last, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Sir Rembrandt (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Kingscliff (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, soon lost place and driven along, behind from next, 5th of 7, 35l behind Ollie Magern (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Nov.
Simon 12-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 14th, challenged for 2nd 2 out, weakening when not fluent last, 5th of 10, 26l behind Sir Rembrandt (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Ofarel D'airy (FR) 15-8fav (11-7) Held up in touch, hit 12th, not fluent 15th, close 2nd when left in lead 2 out, soon ridden, worn down final strides, 2nd of 6, shd behind Glasker Mill (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m Grad Ch (2) gd in Nov.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, struggling 14th, mistake 16th, well behind 3 out, headway after 2 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Sir Rembrandt (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Kelami (FR) (10-8) Blundered water, in touch until dropped back 2 out, 9th of 10, 22l behind Moka De L'isle (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 5f ch hvy in Nov.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) In touch, hit 4th, chased winner 5 out, ridden approaching next, headway to challenge when hit 3 out and 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 23, 2l behind Hot Weld (9-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Baron Windrush 8-1 (10-11) Prominent, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon held by winner, weakened approaching last, 7th of 10, 33l behind Sir Rembrandt (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Blue Splash (FR) 2-1fav (11-3) Always prominent, pushed along after 8th, led approaching 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating In Dream's (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Without A Doubt 14-1 (10-0) Jumped left throughout, led after 1st, ridden and headed last, rallied run- in, held close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Harris Bay (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Nov.
Over The Creek 11-8fav (11-0) Prominent, led 10th, clear 14th, ran on, won at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs beating Hennessy (11-0) by 4l, 12 ran.
Flying Enterprise (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Tracked leader, led 11th, driven and headed approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 11l behind Howle Hill (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Principe Azzurro (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 13th, led approaching 2 out, clear last, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating The Luder (11-1) by 5l, 13 ran.
Herecomestanley 11-4fav (12-2) Held up, improved 12th, led soon after 3 out, ran on, comfortably, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Autumn Red (10-13) by 10l, 6 ran.
Model Son (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 4 out and soon weakened, 7th of 11, 30l behind Mighty Fine (11-9) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jul.
