held up, ridden and weakened 14th
chased leader 1st, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
in touch, mistake 8th, ridden and weakened 14th
towards rear, steady headway 5th, weakening when mistake 12th, pulled up before 15th
towards rear, headway 9th, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out
chased winner from 7th, not fluent 12th, no impression on clear winner from 5 out
made all from 3rd, clear 6th, drew further clear 12th unchallenged
led, headed 3rd, lost place 7th, ridden 9th, behind when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
towards rear, ridden 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
in rear when fell heavily 3rd
Xellance can turn the tables on General O'Keeffe, with Metal Detector and Chopneyev seen as the other main players. This does not have a great deal of strength in depth, and so at first glance General O'Keeffe has obvious claims after his success over Xellance at Taunton last month. However, the latter is now slightly better off at the weights for the length-and-a-half that separated them, and after a string of near misses, can be fancied to make amends. Granted it was a good effort by General O'Keefe on what was his first start for Liam Corcoran, but it is debatable whether he has much more improvement in him. Metal Detector showed promise a couple of seasons ago but has gone right off the boil, while Chopneyev has yet to realise his potential. Tony McCoy rides Cockspur who has plenty of duck-eggs next to his name, and so, despite the welter burden of topweight, Xellance must have leading claims.
Xellance (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) In touch, every chance when not fluent 3 out, ran on well from last, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind General O'Keeffe (9-13) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Follow The Flow (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Prominent, ridden 13th, weakened 15th, 5th of 7, well behind Coursing Run (11-2) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar.
Star Angler (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, hit 1st, weakened 5th, 13th of 20, well behind Kickahead (11-0) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Another Conquest 7-1 (11-0) In rear, not fluent 10th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Sissinghurst Storm (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Cockspur (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and effort 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Cousin Nicky (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Metal Detector (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division until weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Curly Spencer (10-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Chopneyev (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Never travelling towards rear, losing touch when mistake 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Wee Anthony (11-1) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Called To The Bar 66-1 (9-10) Hampered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Nenuphar Collonges (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Good Man Again (IRE) 50-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, blundered and lost place 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Nenuphar Collonges (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Silver Samuel (NZ) 33-1 (11-8) Prominent, mistake 5th, lost place 9th, behind when hampered 11th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Charming Fellow (11-10) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
General O'Keeffe 6-1 (9-13) Chased leader, led 13th, ridden 3 out, ran on gamely, won at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov beating Xellance (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
