took keen hold, tracking leader when bumped first, led next, headed approaching 6th, blundered badly 8th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 6th, led next, 2 lengths clear approaching last, driven out and held on near finish
always towards rear, ridden and struggling after 9th, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened 8th, mistake next, struggling under pressure before 4 out, tailed off
behind, mistake 7th, headway to modest 3rd before 4 out, no chance with front pair when mistake last, lost 3rd flat, tailed off
took keen hold, led, jumped violently right and bumped rival 1st, headed next, chased leader, led before 6th, headed next, chased winner until ridden and weakened before 4 out
soon tailed off in rear, pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, mistake 6th, driven in 5th approaching 4 out, kept on into modest 3rd flat, tailed off
held up in touch, headway to chase winner before 4 out, blundered 4 out, pecked 3 out, not fluent 2 out, driven and closed flat, not reached winner
Not a bad novices' chase with little between several of these on hurdles form but we'll take ACORDEON to make the perfect start over larger obstacles from Sambulando and Hide The Evidence. Our selection is bred to be better for this switch to fences and that augurs well here as the unexposed gelding was still able to show smart hurdle form, most notably when second to a subsequent Grade One winner in March. Whilst he was pulled up last time had it not been for a bad mistake three out the horse may have actually taken a hand in the finish of what looked a decent handicap hurdle and with the stable going well fitness can be taken on trust despite a six-month absence. Should the likely favourite disappoint for whatever reason then Tom George's Sambulando may be best placed to take advantage. The six-year-old made his chasing debut at Ffos Las in October and may well have made it a winning one had he not come to grief three from home. Given two months to recover from that mishap and undoubtedly intensely schooled in the meantime, Sam Thomas' mount should go well if his confidence hasn't been affected by the fall. Hide The Evidence was rated best of these over hurdles and has completed in two of his three chase starts without looking like winning. However, those races have arguably been better than this one and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that the horse is still improving so the Victor Dartnall inmate is worthy of respect as is West With The Wind who has been kept busy on the flat and therefore should be fit for this chasing debut. Beherayn has talent but has not looked a natural and Petrosian will have to leave his hurdles form well behind if he's to take this, so we return to Acordeon for our idea of the winner.
Beherayn 12-1 (11-6) Pulled hard in rear, fell 3rd, in a race won by You're The Top (11-0) at Kempton 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Acordeon (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Held up, going well and close up when blundered badly 3 out, not recover and pulled up before last, in a race won by Little Bob (10-8) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in May, 8 ran.
Hide The Evidence (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, chased clear leading pair 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, lost 3rd approaching last, 4th of 7, 29l behind Recif De Thaix (10-8) at Hereford 2m beg chs (3) sft.
Petrosian 7-1 (10-10) Led until 6th, led again approaching 4 out, headed before last soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Danehill Willy (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Sambulando (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) Chased clear leaders, closed when slightly hampered 6th, went 2nd 8th, 2 lengths down when blundered badly and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Manorson (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Viable 15-2 (11-4) Keen early, chased leader, went 2nd 4th, led approaching 2 out, ridden 1 length clear flat, all out, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov beating Crosby Jemma (10-7) by hd, 13 ran.
Vogarth 150-1 (10-7) In rear, hit 2nd, lost touch when blundered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Working Title (11-0) at Fakenham 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Alesandro Mantegna (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Led, driven and headed last, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
West With The Wind 40-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, mid- division, hit 3rd, weakened after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bouggler (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Apr, 17 ran.
