in touch, jumped right 1st, lost place from 4th, pulled up before 13th
towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and not much room towards finish
mid-division, reminders 14th, soon weakened
mid-division, in 7th place before last, no impression
towards rear, plugged on before 4 out, never dangerous
mid-division, headway before 11th, led before 3 out, pressed from 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish
mid-division, headway before 15th, led before 3 out, soon headed, rallied before last, kept on to regain lead towards finish
in rear, headway before 15th, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden after last, kept on towards finish
led, mistake 10th, headed 11th, pulled up after 12th
always towards rear
chased leaders, hampered 1st, led 11th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened before 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd from 9th, challenged before 3 out, every chance before 2 out, weakened towards finish
NonRunner
L'Ami Serge is a very smart staying hurdler but hasn’t won over fences in more than two years. Davy Russell is a good substitute for regular pilot Daryl Jacob but his mount may not offer much value at the likely odds given he only has one above him in the handicap. There are still stamina doubts surrounding Flying Angel after his run at Aintree and Vibrato Valtat may also struggle to get home on the surface, though is weighted to reverse course and distance form with Mustmeetalady. Wakanda will enjoy conditions but the Rowland Meyrick second is pretty much exposed and Long House Hall has no form on ground this soft and hasn’t raced since July. Pilgrims Bay often travels strongly in his races but doesn’t always find much at the business end so WARRIORS TALE could give Paul Nicholls a third victory in this Listed chase as he has won over 3m, though has mainly been campaigned over shorter. He gave subsequent Ascot winner Gold Present a real fright at Newbury last month and is best on left-handed galloping tracks like this. Thumb Stone Blues bolted up over hurdles on soft going here last year and is lightly raced over fences so could also be worth a second look as he’s likely to be staying on when others have cried enough.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 40-1 (11-1) Mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 17th of 40, dist behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
L'Ami Serge (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Waited with in rear, gained a place 7th, headway travelling sweetly before 2 out, went 2nd soon after 2 out, 1 length down when hit last, found nil run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Sam Spinner (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Flying Angel (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leader until not fluent 4th, not fluent 7th, last before 12th, closed 13th, close up when slow 4 out, ridden before 3 out, 3rd and weakening after 2 out, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Definitly Red (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) hvy in Dec.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 17th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, led 3 out, soon pressed, kept on and headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Mustmeetalady (10-4) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Warriors Tale 10-1 (11-11) Mid-division, steady headway chasing leaders 6th, went 2nd 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, joined run-in, headed last strides, 2nd of 12, nk behind Gold Present (11-10) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Wakanda (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance from 3 out, led approaching last, headed soon after landing, rallied to lead again towards finish, headed close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind Get On The Yager (10-7) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Long House Hall (IRE) 6-1jfav (10-12) Held up, mistake 7th, headway 4 out, led 2 out, ridden clear after last, ran on strongly, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul beating Ballynagour (11-12) by 8l, 16 ran.
Coologue (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 16th, soon pushed along, weakened before 2 out, behind when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Mustmeetalady (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Towards rear, mistake 9th, blundered 11th, headway before 4 out, challenged last, kept on to lead close home, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec beating Vibrato Valtat (11-7) by nk, 9 ran.
Minella On Line (IRE) 8-1 (12-1) Prominent, ridden and one pace in 3rd place before last, 3rd of 8, 12 1/4l behind De Rasher Counter (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Thumb Stone Blues (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leaders, chased winner before 3 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Delusionofgrandeur (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Federici 7-2jfav (11-12) Mostly chased leaders, lost place when hampered 3 out, weakening when mistake next, 5th of 8, 34l behind Clan Legend (11-6) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Pilgrims Bay (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, steady headway 13th, tracking leaders when slightly hampered 14th, soon 3rd, went 2nd no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Tintern Theatre (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
