close up, hit 3rd, outpaced 3 out, stayed on again approaching last, went 4th towards finish
tracked leader, led approaching 4th, just headed when blundered and unseated rider 7th
led until approaching 4th, weakened quickly after 6th, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
held up, headway after 3 out, led next, drifted right flat, ridden out
tracked leaders, led 7th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, faded
pulled hard, held up, headway after 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on, soon held, hung left flat
R DE RIEN SIVOLA looks the most likely winner here to us, and gets the nod ahead of Theatre Diva and Mexican Pete. She gains weight from all bar one, and after impressing with a win and a second in better company than this, is expected to be well supported. She's also got some entries at Cheltenham and Lingfield in the next couple of days, but if pulled from them, Paul Nicholls presumably feels this race is the most winnable. Theatre Diva returns to hurdling after a year chasing; the smaller obstacles seem more to her liking, although she has won over both. After falling last time out, this could be a good confidence booster over hurdles. She's the only one to have won over this trip. Mexican Pete is regularly placed but keeps finding one or two too good, and hasn't won for two and a half years. Being top weight could be a tough ask for him here, but expect him to be involved at the finish. However we think the most likely winner is R De Rien Sivola.
Mexican Pete 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Mous Of Men (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Gold Gun (USA) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, hit 7th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Serabad (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Paradi (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, some headway 7th, weakened 11th, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Flying Falcon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Laustra Bad (FR) 17-2 (11-7) Always towards rear, 8th of 12, 22l behind Bureaucrat (11-11) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Theatre Diva (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up, still last but in touch when fell at the 12th in race won by Creinch (9-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
R De Rien Sivola (FR) 5-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Simarian (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Archie Gunn 33-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on without troubling leaders, 5th of 14, 7l behind I'm A Legend (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Red Admiral (USA) 11-2fav (10-6) Always rear, ridden and struggling 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 14, 40l behind Art Professor (10-10) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.
