made all, blundered 4th, hit 6th and 9th, drew clear from 4 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on well
tracked winner, outpaced before 4 out, soon no impression, stayed on same pace under pressure, lost place final 100 yards
tracked leading pair, outpaced 4 out, lost place when blundered next, soon pulled up
mid-division, ridden 5 out, soon weakened and pulled up
fell 1st
tracked leaders, lost place and reminder 8th, outpaced 12th, headway to chase leading pair 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
behind, struggling 10th, headway under pressure 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, no impression
hampered 1st, towards rear, outpaced 12th, mistake 4 out, never on terms
hampered 1st, mid-division, chased leading trio 5 out to next, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, struggling 11th, weakened 5 out, soon pulled up
held up when mistake and unseated rider 1st
Nonrunner
QUITO DU TRESOR bounced back to form with a win at Ascot in November and is still improving. Lucinda Russell's charge gets a tentative vote in a wide-open chase. Stablemate Santa's Son won't be far away if repeating October's second at Aintree and Quicuyo is also on the upgrade. He had Montoya's Son a length behind when landing a double at Doncaster last time, while Phidippides cannot be discounted if fully recovered from his fall at Wetherby on his reappearance. Feindish Flame is inconsistent, but has claims on last month's hurdles win at Leicester and is yet another to consider.
Fiendish Flame (IRE) 15-8 (12-0) Led and soon pressed, mistake 6th, hard ridden and strongly challenged 3 out, headed after next, 5th of 11, 14l behind Christopher Wren (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Quicuyo (GER) 8-1 (11-10) Led, pressed from 3 out, challenged from next, ridden and headed last, rallied to regain lead towards finish, gamely, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec beating Kings Grey (11-3) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Quito Du Tresor (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, left in lead from 8th, clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Politeo (11-5) by 9l, 9 ran.
Phidippides (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, not fluent 1st, hit 10th, 6th and travelling ok when fell 11th, in a race won by Fistral Beach (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Alderley Rover (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd and ridden after next, weakened 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 6, 27l behind Fiendish Flame (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Premier Sagas (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division on outside, headway when mistake 3 out, chased leaders under pressure between last 2, left clear 4th last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression, 4th of 12, 10l behind Always Right (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Riguez Dancer 5-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 4, 20l behind Diamond Frontier (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
John Forbes 2-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led before 4 out, stayed on well from next, left well clear 2 out, easily, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f clm chs (4) gs in Feb '10 beating Yankee Holiday (10-13) by 33l, 7 ran.
Montoya's Son (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Quicuyo (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 28-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, ridden and some headway over 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 12, 24l behind Quicuyo (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Kosta Brava (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, ridden after 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 9, 19l behind Papa Caruso (9-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Santa's Son (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed 8th, 6th when fell 11th, in a race won by Tamarinbleu (11-12) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
