chased leaders until weakened 11th
held up, badly hampered 2nd, not recover and pulled up after 4th
chased leaders, mistake 1st, fell 2nd
in touch, slightly hampered 2nd, stumbled badly and unseated rider 3rd
led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, 3rd and weakening when mistake 3 out
held up, headway 8th, weakened after 11th
in touch, headway 9th, led approaching 4 out, ran on well
in touch, badly hampered 2nd, headway 7th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, weakened run-in
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 6th
held up and always towards rear
Marcel will be a popular choice here and he can get the better of Reveillez and Grey Brother. Martin Pipe's gelding landed no less than seven hurdle races last season, earning a rating of 144. He will no doubt have been well schooled by his talented handler and he can make a winning start to his chase career. James Fanshawe's Reveillez has reportedly taken well to the larger obstacles and this high class hurdler looks to be the main threat to the selection. Grey Brother is another making his chasing bow and is from another top yard. He has always been thought of as a potentially top fencer and should be in the mix. The Paul Nicholls trained Ballez may do best of the remainder, but Marcel was the class act over the smaller obstacles and he gets the verdict.
Diamond Merchant 17-2 (11-0) In touch, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Valance (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (E) gf in Oct, 10 ran.
Grey Brother 11-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, hit 1st, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well, won at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Apr '04 beating Polar Scout (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Jasper Rooney 150-1 (11-6) Prominent, jumped slowly 1st and lost place, ridden 4th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Blue Business (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gs, 9 ran.
Malaga Boy (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Always towards rear, 11th of 18, 48l behind Dare Too Dream (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Marcel (FR) 10-3jt-fav (10-8) Held up, mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, last of 9, 25l behind Royal Shakespeare (11-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Matthew Muroto (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Always behind, tailed off from 8th, 6th of 9, well behind Gallery God (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec '04.
Montgermont (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, hit 4th, led and blundered 6th, soon headed, hampered 9th, mistake 12th, soon one pace, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Taranis (10-9) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) gd in Nov.
Reveillez 9-1 (11-7) In touch, hit 1st, headway 5th, ridden and every chance 2 out, stayed on, 6th of 20, 4l behind No Refuge (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Ballez (FR) 2-1fav (10-7) In touch, driven to chase leaders from 7th, led 3 out, went right and headed next, kept on but not pace of winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Royal Hector (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (E) gs in Nov.
Fallout (IRE) 40-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders until 8th, mistake next, kept on same pace from 4 out, 5th of 8, 16l behind Supreme Serenade (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov chs (E) gs in Dec.
Keepthedreamalive 12-1 (11-4) With winner until 8th, soon driven along in touch, stayed on again from 4 out, 3rd of 10, 20l behind The Listener (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (B) sft in Dec.
