in rear, not fluent 1st, headway to chase leaders approaching 10th, in 4th and looking held when fell 2 out
towards rear, hit 6th, headway to chase leaders in 3rd when fell 10th
led and jumped right throughout, jumped badly right 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, under pressure approaching last, headed when no extra and lost 2nd towards finish
held up mid-division in 5th, headway approaching 10th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leader, reminders after 8th, lost place approaching and badly hampered 10th, not recover and soon pulled up before next
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd at 9th, challenged on bit 3 out, ridden after 2 out, every chance after last, kept on towards finish
held up in rear, struggling from 8th, tailed off 4 out, left remote 4th 2 out
mid-division, hit 4th, reminders after next, in 4th when fell 7th
It is relatively easy to put a line through the three at the bottom of the weights as they would need to find vast improvement to challenge. Chord makes a first start over fences but pulled up last time jumping hurdles over this trip and is opposable. Royial has shown little under rules but there is more to like about Mister Micheau who was a close second on his first chase start. He has to be respected having taken well to jumping fences, whilst Tegan Lee is another danger if transferring her ability over hurdles to the larger obstacles. MYCENEAN PRINCE gets the vote having vastly improved since joining Jim Best. Tony McCoy is booked for the ride and off a fair mark looks primed for a first chase success.
Tegan Lee 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, closed after 6th, mistake next, went 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on, not able to trouble winner, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Winning Show (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sep.
Royial (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, went 3rd well before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 3rd of 6, well behind Am I Blue (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Sep.
Mister Micheau (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led and clear with rival to 5th, pressed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure until headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Buailteoir (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sep.
Chord 10-1 (11-7) Led until 6th, weakened before next, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by The Wee Midget (11-6) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd, 15 ran.
Mycenean Prince (USA) 9-2fav (11-5) Led until 4th, soon given reminders, 3rd and driven next, went 2nd after 3 out, led and hung right after next, edged left approaching last, stayed on to come clear flat, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Sep beating Hollies Favourite (11-9) by 7l, 17 ran.
Normandy Landings 14-1 (11-3) In rear, struggling when hampeed 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Orion Star (9-7) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May, 12 ran.
Drombeg Pride (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Behind, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, 4th of 8, 28l behind Buailteoir (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sep.
Poacher's Dream (IRE) 28-1 (10-2) In touch, hard ridden 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 36l behind Morestead (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Sep.
