held up towards rear, fell 2nd
mid-division, not fluent and lost place 6th, mistake 15th, remote 7th 16th, plugged on into remote 4th latter stages
mid-division, hampered 11th, headway after 15th, struggling 18th, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 8th, tracking leaders when fell 11th
not that fluent, soon led, jumped right 1st, headed next, stayed handy, lost place 15th, soon behind, pulled up before next
held up in rear, hampered 11th, mistake next, progress 16th, 3rd from 3 out, one pace and no impression before 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway 12th, hampered 15th, went 2nd when pecked 18th, challenged after 2 out, narrow lead when not fluent last, soon headed, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders, hampered 1st, not fluent 7th, led 9th, mistake next, headed after 12th, close up when hampered by loose horse when fell 15th
prominent, led 2nd until 9th, weakening when mistake and unseated rider 17th
tracked leaders, jumped right and baulked 1st, lost place 6th, behind from 13th, hit 14th, mistake next, soon pulled up
held up in rear, not fluent and ridden 14th, behind when pulled up after next
mid-division, closed after 5th, went 2nd after 15th, led 17th, jumped right 4 out, edged right and saddle slipped briefly before next, pecked 2 out, headed narrowly last, soon led again, stayed on well
held up in rear, hampered 11th, hampered and unseated rider 15th
tracked leaders, led after 12th, headed 17th, weakened after 3 out, soon fell
Nonrunner
Outright favourites don’t have a great record in this but it's usually won by a fancied runner. SEGO SUCCESS may well head the market come the off but could be the exception that proves the rule as he impressed at Doncaster last month when allowed to bowl along in front. He does have a stopping weight on the ground but did win the novice chase on this card 12 months ago and is normally a good jumper. He was fifth in last year's National Hunt Chase when Vivaldi Collonges was pulled up but Paul Nicholls' charge got off the mark over fences at Kelso last time and is from a family that generally improves with age. Alan King trains the selection and also Midnight Prayer, who has a chance. Venetia Williams is also double-handed and her Rigadin De Beauchene won this in 2013 under Robbie Dunne. Kerry Lee is aiming for a second big prize in eight days and is hopeful of a good run from Russe Blanc but Algernon Pazham's jumping let him down at Aintree and this will be another tough test. What A Good Night has had a break since winning at Bangor and also has jumping issues, as does Houblon Des Obeaux, while this may be too far for Irish raider Dromnea and Foxbridge.
Sego Success (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Made all, ridden before 2 out, pressed last, found plenty run-in, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Reaping The Reward (10-8) by 5l, 10 ran.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Led until jumped slowly 3rd, chased leader, led again 10th until 13th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 13, 18 1/2l behind Wakanda (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Vivaldi Collonges (FR) 15-8fav (11-0) Close up on outside, tracked leader 6th, disputed lead 9th, led 5 out, drew clear from 3 out, ridden between last 2, kept on, eased towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Firth Of The Clyde (11-3) by 4l, 6 ran.
Algernon Pazham (IRE) 7-1fav (10-10) Mid-division, mistakes, blundered and unseated rider 14th (foinavon), at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Red Devil Lads (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Led 1st, mistake and headed 5th, mistake and unseated rider 8th, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Dromnea (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Chased leaders early, mid-division halfway, progress into 5th 5 out, ridden in 8th and mistake 2 out, no impression before last, left 6th last, kept on same pace run-in, 7th of 28, 9 1/4l behind Minella Foru (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hvy in Dec.
Midnight Prayer 20-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent and reminder 7th (water), headway approaching 3 out, plugged on same pace next, modest 4th run-in, 4th of 16, 19 1/2l behind Aloomomo (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Rigadin De Beauchene (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Made all, jumped well, challenged 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Haydock 3m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Harry The Viking (10-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Loose Chips 16-1 (11-1) Led until not fluent 12th, mistake 14th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 15, 29 1/4l behind The Last Samuri (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Ballyheigue Bay (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Prominent, not fluent 8th or 13th, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 15, 32 1/4l behind The Last Samuri (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
What A Good Night (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Held up, headway approaching 10th, disputed 2nd 3 out, ridden to challenge last, ran on, led final strides, won at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Algernon Pazham (11-2) by nk, 13 ran.
Russe Blanc (FR) 3-1jfav (11-7) Chased leaders, reminders halfway, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, weakened before last, last of 5, 11l behind Ballyculla (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Foxbridge (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 13th, mistake next, stayed on same pace from 3 out, no impression, 4th of 15, 15 3/4l behind The Last Samuri (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
De Kerry Man (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led, 3 lengths clear when stumbled and unseated rider 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, disputed lead 16th to next, outpaced in 3rd 4 out, modest 4th from next, 4th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Lackamon (11-4) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
