with leader early, chased leaders, weakened from before 4 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 16th, ridden and every chance before 2 out, kept on and no impression before last
in touch, blundered 9th, headway before next, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
led, hit 11th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
close up, pushed along before 16th, went 3rd from 2 out, one pace
mid-division, weakened before 3 out
towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden to lead before 2 out, clear when mistake last, kept on strongly
mistake 2nd, behind, weakened before 15th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, blundered 7th, hit 11th, never dangerous
held up towards rear, mistake 11th, soon struggling, tailed off before 15th, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, headway before 14th, chased leaders before 4 out, ridden and blundered 2 out when weakening
chased leaders in 4th, weakened from 10th, tailed off before 15th, pulled up before next
This marathon usually turns out to be competitive and this year looks no exception. Reblis was only beaten a neck by Mission Complete over a similar trip at Warwick on his reappearance and is better off at the weights here. Miko de Beauchene ran well when a close third to Shaking Hands at Towcester while Master Neo was the only one to make a race of it with Benheir at Ffos Las before Christmas, though the winner was well beaten next time. It took PRESENT TO YOU 17 starts to break his duck over fences but he's really stepped up to the plate since being sent over a distance of note, winning over 3m4f at Stratford before running Ballyoliver to half-a-length over a slightly shorter trip at Newbury. He may well be capable of giving young Jake Hodson the biggest win of his career to date. Well Refreshed still needs to brush up his jumping while last year's winner Double Dizzy is 10lb higher, though did run well over Cheltenham's cross-country fences last time.
Reblis (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Led, 5 lengths ahead 2 out, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Mission Complete (10-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Pettifour (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway before 17th, one pace from 3 out, 5th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Monsieur Cadou (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, kept on from last, always held, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Shaking Hands (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Master Neo (FR) 5-1 (10-6) Led until 7th, led again next, headed approaching 2 out, no extra, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Benheir (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Double Dizzy 33-1 (10-2) With leader, led 19th, hard pressed 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 11, 11l behind Outlaw Pete (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
Present To You (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Disputed lead throughout, ridden and every chance after last, kept on until no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Ballyoliver (11-5) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Well Refreshed 11-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 5 out, hit next, every chance 2 out, led after last, stayed on strongly, won at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Rigadin De Beauchene (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Qualviro (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, one pace from 3 out, weakened run-in, 4th of 7, 9l behind Honest John (11-12) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Tim The Chair (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Left in lead when hampered 1st, headed next, tracked leader and tendency to jump left, went slightly wide and reminder on bend after 9th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Basoda (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Mission Complete (IRE) 7-4fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent, went 2nd 8th until and again from 16th, driven 3 out, 5 lengths down 2 out, stayed on under strong pressure last, led towards finish, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Reblis (11-12) by nk, 6 ran.
Hodgson (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 4 out, every chance from next, no extra after last, 4th of 8, 3/4l behind Bendant (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 5f beg chs (4) hvy in Dec.
Brunette'sonly (IRE) 13-8fav (10-8) Tracked winner until 3rd (usual 4th,) tracked leaders, jumped right next, hit 6th (usual 7th,) pulled up 7th (usual 9th,) dismounted, in a race won by Ballinhassig (10-0) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.