in touch, reminder after 6th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
held up last, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, 3rd when mistake 3 out, kept on same pace after
always towards rear, reminders 7th, soon weakened
chased leader, led after 1st to after 4th, mistake 5th, led approaching 8th, mistake and headed 9th, weakened 3 out
prominent, blundered 8th, ridden and hampered 3 out, switched right 2 out, every chance when hampered last, not recover flat
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, no extra from 3 out
led, jumped right 1st, headed after, led after 4th, jumped right 5th, headed approaching 8, led 9th, ridden after 3 out, jumped right last, kept on gamely flat
mid-division, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 8th
Daryal is one of the best in at the weights judged by official BHA ratings and is bound to be popular with backers but Alan King's gelding has not looked a natural over fences so it may be worth taking a chance with the chasing newcomer Classic Fiddle, who gets the vote over Oscar D'angron. The last mentioned is the pick at the weights on official ratings and although he failed to win in his native France, the six-year-old is now in the care of Paul Nicholls and there should be more to come from him, especially on the testing ground. Nick Gifford's Russian Around is less exposed than most of these and has to be considered, along with another lightly raced runner Double Law. Lucy Wadham's Victorias Groom is another that remains open to improvement and will have no problems with the underfoot conditions but it is Classic Fiddle that gets the vote. Nicky Henderson's mare has shown progressive form over hurdles, is bred to make the grade over the larger obstacles and she may be worth chancing on her debut over them.
Daryal (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, mistake 11th, soon ridden and beaten, 4th of 5, well behind Moon Over Miami (11-10) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Double Law 12-1 (11-2) Held up when blundered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Macmar (11-3) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 13 ran.
Knock Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, never on terms, 3rd of 8, 25l behind Jean Le Poisson (11-0) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) gs.
Oscar D'angron (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leader, hit 7th, every chance 4 out, ridden from next, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Sobers (11-0) at Chepstow 2m beg chs (4) hvy.
Russian Around (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Chased leaders, shaken up to close on leading pair after 6th, weakened before 3 out, last of 3, 31l behind Royals Darling (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) sft.
Victorias Groom (GER) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 9th, chased leaders, switched left and weakened approaching 3 out, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Duc De Regniere (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft.
Classic Fiddle 3-10fav (11-5) Chased leader until 4th, went 2nd again 5th, led before 6th, clear 2 out, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar beating Gunnasayso (10-12) by 23l, 5 ran.
Papeete (GER) 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear unti fell at the 11th in race won by Pedros Brief (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
