made all, pecked 10th, came clear from 3 out, hit last, heavily eased run-in
in touch, slow jump 6th, pushed along 4 out, went poor 3rd 2 out
chased leaders, pecked 5th, left 2nd at 8th, hit 11th, ridden when jumped right 4 out, left behind from 3 out, tailed off
not always fluent, in touch, slightly hampered 8th, headway to 3rd at 11th, weakened approaching 2 out
close 2nd when fell 8th
not fluent, always behind, hampered 8th, tailed off when blundered 3 out
chased leaders until weakened 7th, soon behind, no chance when blundered 4 out, tailed off
A cracking contest to open the card and TAKE THE BREEZE is selected to get the better of Dave's Dream and Working Title. The latter pair are trained by Nicky Henderson, who is hard to take on in current form. Barry Geraghty prefers Dave's Dream, who should improve for a comfortable Huntingdon win on his chase debut last time. He acts with cut in the ground and even though he has failed to stay around 2m 4f in the past, he will probably get this far, so he is very much respected. Stablemate Working Title has never yet raced on ground slower than good to soft, so has a bit to prove on that score, and he was a ready winner of a Fakenham novices' contest last month. He definitely will get today's slightly longer trip and despite the fact that Geraghty deserts him he could go close. Soft ground suits Warne's Way, who stays well but perhaps does not have the class of one or two others, while Moneywise won a hurdle in France earlier in the year, but has a bit to prove after failing to complete in his two other starts at Auteuil. Den Of Iniquity jumped really well when scoring in the mud at Folkestone last time, but on a line through Bensalem he has a tough task with the selection today, although he has certainly improved since they met in November. Sunnyhillboy has an excellent strike rate with six wins from 10 career starts and Tony McCoy prefers him to Moneywise. Soft ground and this sort of trip suit, and he can get heavily involved, but we will stick with Take The Breeze. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has impressed in two chase victories so far this winter and stays at least as far as this. He jumps well, and Ruby Walsh knows that he can run the sting out of Dave's Dream and his charge will be staying on at the business end, hopefully, for the win.
Take The Breeze (FR) 9-4 (11-5) (limited comments due to very poor visibility) disputing lead after 4th, 3rd approaching 10th, in lead last, driven out (no time taken), won at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) hvy beating Bensalem (11-5) by 2l, 5 ran.
Dave's Dream (IRE) 8-15fav (11-0) Held up in 3rd, challenged 3 out, soon pushed along, not fluent 2 out, soon led, edged right after last, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov beating My Moment (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Den of Iniquity 11-10fav (11-0) Always prominent, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure, won at Folkestone 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov beating Numide (11-0) by 2l, 5 ran.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Held up and patiently ridden, slightly lost place 5th, not fluent 7th, headway on outside to chase leaders approaching 3 out, led last, pushed along and always doing enough run-in, won at Lingfield 2m beg chs (4) sft in Nov beating Award Winner (11-0) by nk, 5 ran.
Working Title (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3rd, made rest, driven and edged right flat, kept on well towards finish, won at Fakenham 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating I Have Dreamed (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Moneywise (IRE) (10-3) 98th of 11, well behind Mascarpone (10-3) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 4f chs.
Warne's Way (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, lost place 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression when left 3rd 3 out, left 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Pocket Aces (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft.
