mid-division, lost place 9th, soon behind, no danger after
in touch, led 3rd until headed and pulled up quickly after 11th
mid-division on outside when fell 5th
soon in touch, went 2nd at 9th, led 11th, ridden after 3 out, soon under pressure, headed narrowly and still every chance when fell next
led in start, soon mid-division, lost place 7th, soon struggling, plugged on to go moderate 4th at last, no chance with leaders
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after next, challenged 2 out, kept on under pressure and every chance flat, held near finsh
behind, hampered 5th, headway into mid-division 14th, never nearer
held up towards rear, steady headway 13th, tracked leaders 4 out, went 2nd after next, led narrowly on outside approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure when hard pressed flat, held on near finish
in touch, hampered 3rd, left 2nd after 11th, mistake and lost place 4 out, outpaced next, left clear 3rd 2 out, no impression with leading pair before last
mid-division on inside, mistake and reminder 14th, kept on from 2 out, never near leaders
towards rear of mid-division when fell 7th
chased leaders on inside when jinked right and unseated rider approaching 12th
led, mistake and headed 3rd, tracked leader until mistake 9th, in touch, lost place 14th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, hampered 3rd, blundered 12th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch when blundered and unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out
hampered 5th, always behind, no chance when jumped right last
in touch on outside, effort 4 out, soon outpaced, left remte 4th 2 out, weakened and lost place last
mid-division, lost place 8th, soon behind, no danger after
Great Endeavour won over a shorter trip at The Festival last year but the runner-up that day, Sunnyhillboy, should reverse the form over this distance and looks to have been laid out for this race. Chief Dan George won this very contest 12 months ago, though is 6lb higher in the weights this time around, while Bensalem, Exmoor Ranger and Razor Royale all failed to finish last year though the former was travelling ominously well when falling two out and is potentially well handicapped again today. Choc Thornton rides the eight-year-old in preference to the hat-trick seeking Blazing Bailey. Rare Bob, Fair Along and Carole's Legacy may be too high in the weights now but King Fontaine possibly needed the run when pulled up at Haydock last month and can't be ignored. But we like the look of REVE DE SIVOLA, who steps out of novice company for the first time and will relish this first try over 3m. Second in last year's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle here a year ago, his defeat of Wishfull Thinking on good ground over 2m5f here in December suggests he's very well treated today on a mark of 140.
Blazing Bailey 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4 out, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly to lead flat, ridden out, won at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb beating Minella Four Star (10-3) by 2l, 11 ran.
Rare Bob (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led, soon clear, reduced advantage 2 out, kept on well under pressure from before last, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft in Jan beating Got Attitude (10-4) by 2l, 12 ran.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Led, mistake 7th, headed 5 out, rallied and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Skippers Brig (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f chs (2) gs.
Great Endeavour (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, challenged next, kept on and every chance flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Fair Along (GER) 11-4 (11-0) Led narrowly, not fluent and headed 9th, with winner, led again 5 out, headed 3 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd next, rallied flat, stayed on well towards finish, not reach leading pair, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Noland (11-0) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Carole's Legacy Evensfav (11-5) Tracked leaders, hard ridden to challenge after 2 out, soon under pressure, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Sparky May (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Chasing leaders in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by Iconoclast (10-4) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Bensalem (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 8th, smooth headway to lead on bit 3 out, mistake and jumped right 2 out, soon headed, one pace from last, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Cross Kennon (11-8) at Haydock 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, reminders after 4th, outpaced from 7th, never in contention after, well beaten approaching 3 out, 7th of 9, 47l behind Medermit (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Feb.
King Fontaine (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway on outer approaching 14th, blundered 6 out, quickly pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Silver By Nature (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 9-1 (9-13) Behind, headway into mid-division 12th, outpaced when hampered 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Razor Royale (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, under pressure 14th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 16, 49l behind Quinz (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Feb.
The Sawyer (BEL) 15-2 (11-0) Chased clear leader, closed 11th, lost 2nd after 16th, chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 6th of 11, 29l behind Regal Heights (10-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Slippers Percy (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Led, headed approaching 7th, regained lead 7 out, headed after 5 out, dropped to 4th 4 out, ridden and no impression in last 3 out, kept on to moderate 3rd last, no impression leaders, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Quito De La Roque (11-8) at Navan 3m nov chs G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Adams Island (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Led until 7th, remained prominent, driven to challenge 2 out, soon every chance, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 3, 13l behind Captain Chris (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb.
The Rainbow Hunter 11-2 (11-1) Held up in 7th, mistake 4th, headway to 4th after 4 out, led on inside 3 out, pressed and went right last, hung right flat, headed on line, 2nd of 10, shd behind Qhilimar (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Carrickmines (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Led, blundered 12th, headed 17th, chased leader until before 2 out, hit 2 out and weakened, 4th of 8, 20l behind Iconoclast (10-4) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
No Panic (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, lost place after 11th (water), struggling when not fluent 13th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Isn't That Lucky (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Wolf Moon (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Close up, led 4th to 7th, led again 12th, clear before 3 out, hit last, kept on strongly, eased towards finish, won at Catterick 3m 1f beg chase (4) gs in Feb beating Pennek (11-0) by 3l, 7 ran.
