raced wide, held up towards rear, steady headway from 17th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, kept on to take 2nd run-in, not reach winner
towards rear, lost touch 12th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 12th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next
chased leaders in 4th, outpaced and lost place after 17th, rallied and stayed on well from 2 out, chased leaders and mistake last, went 3rd run-in
mid-division to rear, went behind 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
always prominent, raced wide, led 13th, jumped left from 17th, narrowly headed 4 out, led again 3 out, kept on strongly, driven out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders from 4 out, weakened before 2 out
behind when fell 11th
led 3rd to 13th, stayed pressing winner, led narrowly 4 out to 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
in touch, mistake 15th, weakened 17th, blundered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up in rear, stayed on from 4 out, ridden to challenge and close up when ran out last
in touch, pushed along from 17th, kept on under pressure from 3 out
led to 3rd, chased leaders to 13th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
never going well in rear, driven and struggling after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
facing wrong way as tapes rose, behind, fell 15th
In the Racing Post Chase, the vote goes to Innox ahead, with Iris Bleu, Risk Accessor and Lacdoudal rated as his main dangers. The King George fourth, L'Ami, Nicky Henderson's talented but injury-prone Irish Hussar, the course and distance John Smith's Future Stars' first and second Lacdoudal - who represents Philip Hobbs, who has such a good record in this race - and My Will, the 2004 Future Stars' runner-up Calling Brave, last year's fourth in this race (at Kempton) from a six-pounds lower mark, Tikram, Grade 3 Cheltenham winner, Innox, the progressive Graphic Approach, who has been raised eight pounds for a course and distance win, Martin Pipe's course and distance winner, Iris Bleu, who looks very well-weighted based on 2003 form, the formerly useful novice, Fork Lightning, who has attracted money in the build-up to the race, the Rehearsal Chase runner-up - from today's mark - Risk Accessor, and he was running well from higher marks in 2004, and Distant Thunder, who looked more like his old self last time, all warrant mentions here. Once again, though, the vote goes to Innox, whose trainer, Francois Doumen, looks to hold a strong hand in the race.
L'ami (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Held up, headway on long run to 2 out, one pace and no impression after, 4th of 9, 11l behind Kicking King (11-10) at Sandown 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Dec.
Irish Hussar (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Held up, outpaced and struggling 16th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kicking King (11-10) at Sandown 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Lacdoudal (FR) 11-4fav (11-11) Chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 14, 13l behind Attorney General (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
My Will (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, left chasing winner 7th outpaced and lost pace 4 out, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Our Vic (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (1) hvy.
Calling Brave (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Raced in mid-division, mistake and lost place 13th, mistake 15th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Kicking King (11-10) at Kempton 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec '04, 13 ran.
Innox (FR) 9-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, driven 3 out, stayed on after 2 out, led soon after last, ridden clear, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov beating Lou Du Moulin Mas (10-1) by 7l, 16 ran.
Graphic Approach (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Keen hold in mid-division, steady headway from 12th, chased leaders from 4 out, staying on when left in lead 2 out, driven out, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan beating Shalako (10-4) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Iris Bleu (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Behind, some progress 19th, no impression on leaders from 3 out, 7th of 11, 15l behind Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf.
Ballycassidy (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Always behind, 3rd of 5, well behind See You Sometime (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd.
Fork Lightning (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Held up mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Joaaci (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Risk Accessor (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Held up, mid-division when slipped up at the 4th in race won by Sir Oj (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Ladalko (FR) 7-4fav (11-2) Prominent, chased winner 19th, every chance approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf.
Schuh Shine (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) With leader, led 4th to 8th, every chance 4 out, blundered next, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 30l behind Claymore (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft.
Halexy (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 5 out, 7th of 9, 48l behind Claymore (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft.
Distant Thunder (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 10th, left 3rd at 12th, ridden and chased winner 14th, not fluent 3 out, every chance flat, gaining near finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Cruising River (11-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Tikram 11-2 (11-8) Not fluent, held up mid-division, blundered 3rd, lost place and behind before 10th, no chance, last of 10, 21l behind Tysou (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf.
