soon prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost place after 15th, pulled up before 17th
towards rear, some headway on outside 16th, not fluent next, soon outpaced, stayed on to take 4th flat, no impression
in rear, slightly hampered 2nd, behind when pulled up before 18th
mid-division, ridden and struggling before 6th, pulled up before 8th
mid-division, headway before 6th, ridden and lost place after 15th, weakened 18th, pulled up after 3 out
prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost a few places before 6th, closed 4 out, 3rd before 2 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 12th, 3rd when mistake 18th, blundered 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway 18th, led when jumped left 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
soon mid-division, in touch 12th, mistake 16th, driven in dispute of 2nd after 3 out, no extra 2 out
held up in rear, fell 2nd
mostly jumped right, prominent, jumped left 2nd, led after 3 out, headed next, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 10th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, struggling 16th, pulled up before 4 out
hampered when in rear 2nd, soon struggling, well behind 8th, pulled up after
mid-division, blundered 9th, struggling 15th, mistake when well beaten 18th
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden 8th, behind 15th, pulled up before next
held up in mid-division, mistake 3rd, well beaten 18th, pulled up after
towards rear, struggling 5th, well behind 15th
mid-division, ridden after 15th, weakened 4 out
led until after 3 out, not much room on bend before 2 out, soon weakened
Russe Blanc won this last year but hasn’t done much since and trainer Kerry Lee also runs dual Welsh National winner Mountainous as well as Goodtoknow. Rigadin De Beauchene won this in 2013 and is one of three representing the in-form Venetia Williams. This season’s Welsh National third Houblon Des Obeaux is another while big runs are expected from Doctor Harper, just denied at Cheltenham last time, and One For Arthur, a staying-on fifth in the Becher at Aintree last month. Viva Steve made all over 3m at Ayr but this is a much tougher assignment. SHOTGUN PADDY won this in 2014 off a 6lb higher mark and was third 12 months later. He was second in last year’s Eider at Newcastle and showed he was no back number when only weakening at the last on his reappearance at Cheltenham. Emma Lavelle’s 10-year-old will be up with the pace again here and can stay on too strongly for his rivals. Sego Success could make the frame if he isn’t let down by his jumping but Ballycross may lack the maturity for a race like this.
Vivaldi Collonges (FR) Evensfav (11-5) Led until 3rd, chased winner, mistake 12th, not fluent next, lost 2nd 14th, blundered and lost place 15th, struggling in rear after, went badly left 2 out, plugged on into poor 3rd at the last, 3rd of 4, dist behind Amore Alato (10-9) at Sandown 3m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division, in touch after 6th, close up 13th, 2nd 5 out, 3rd and no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 20, 16 3/4l behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Doctor Harper (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up, in rear, headway before 13th, tracking leaders 3 out, 2nd last, stayed on, challenged towards finish, just held, 2nd of 16, shd behind Tour Des Champs (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Milansbar (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Towards rear, blundered 2nd, well behind 17th, pulled up after, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Sego Success (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, outpaced before 11th, mistake 4 out, kept on from next, no impression, 4th of 11, 10l behind No Duffer (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Shotgun Paddy (IRE) 13-2 (10-8) Made most, hamperd by loose horse 12th, headed 4 out, led again next to 2 out, ridden and one pace flat, 7th of 17, 8 1/4l behind Viconte Du Noyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Viva Steve (IRE) 11-8fav (11-9) Made most, clear 4 out to 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well from last, won at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Ballyben (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
One For Arthur (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, disputing 4th elbow, stayed on, unable to challenge, 5th of 22, 2 3/4l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-9) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Mountainous (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place before 3rd, in rear 12th, well behind in 15th 5 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Kaki De La Pree (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Mid-division, close up 12th, challenged 4 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, one pace approaching last, well held flat, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Ballyboker Breeze (11-7) at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Goodtoknow 33-1 (11-5) In touch, outpaced 5 out, ridden and no impression after next, lost modest 4th near finish, 5th of 14, 19l behind Lamb Or Cod (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Knockanrawley (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed and pecked 2 out, switched right before last, stayed on flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Sausalito Sunrise (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Midnight Prayer 25-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 22, dist behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-9) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Led until 7th, led 8th until 10th, reminder before 12th, lost place 13th, pulled up after 15th, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Russe Blanc (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Towards rear when leaving start, disputing 7th when in view after 5th, 10th when in view after 14th, no impression, 6th of 16, 37l behind Yala Enki (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Ballycross 7-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, 4th when hit 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, took 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 5 3/4l behind Pobbles Bay (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Bob Ford (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Mid-division, in rear when blundered 11th, not fluent 13th (becher's brook), some headway 17th, 8th and no impression 2 out, 7th of 22, 23 3/4l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-9) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Kingswell Theatre 18-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place before 13th, tailed off 17th, last and remote 3 out, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Spookydooky (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, outpaced 5 out, tailed off, 8th of 14, dist behind Lamb Or Cod (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Rigadin De Beauchene (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led from 4th, headed before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, 23 1/2l behind Mysteree (10-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
