tracked leaders, went modest 4th before 4 out, ridden and headway under pressure 2 out, went 2nd at last, stayed on to press winner towards finish, just held
tracked leaders, challenged after 5 out, led next, ridden and headed before 3 out, one pace next, no impression in 3rd from last
in touch on outside, reminders after 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
led narrowly to 6th, remained prominent, led again before 3 out, 4 lengths clear last, idled flat, ridden out when pressed towards finish, held on
held up in touch, outpaced after 5 out, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure, never on terms
held up behind, blundered badly 2nd, not jump well after, short lived effort after 5 out, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
with leader, led 6th, headed 4 out, kept on same pace from next
held up behind, outpaced after 5 out, never on terms, weakened 3 out
Nonrunner
French Opera finished a respectable fourth in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time when a couple of lengths ahead of De Boitron. The former should come out best of that pair once again but UPSILON BLEU is just preferred in this. He arrives on the back of a hurdles win in France and is only 2lb higher than when going close in this grade over fences at Chepstow earlier. Back To Bracka unseated at Haydock last time having been hampered but won here before that and can figure with normal luck in-running but Kie will need to step up on his recent efforts to makes his presence felt.
French Opera 25-1 (11-0) Chased winner until 5th, chased leading pair until 2nd again 6th until pushed along before 10th, dropped to last 12th, rallied under pressure into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 6, 11l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
De Boitron (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, went 5th at 12th, outpaced fom 14th, never on terms with leaders after, modest 4th at the last until run-in, 5th of 6, 14l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
Kie (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Led, clear 8th until 10th, headed before 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 8th of 12, 43l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Upsilon Bleu (FR) (10-7) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 3f hdl hvy beating Valtor (10-5) by shd, 11 ran.
Rockawango (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, not much room after 6th, losing place when blundered and in rear next, 6th of 7, 20l behind Indian Voyage (11-0) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Back To Bracka (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway when hampered and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Whispering Harry (10-9) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy, 8 ran.
Wilde Pastures (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 5 out, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 20l behind Stagecoach Pearl (10-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft.
Lucky Landing (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, no impression from next, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Knight In Purple (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Tracked leader, weakened before 8th, tailed off when pulled before 2 out, in a race won by Darna (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
