held up, steady headway from 6th, tracked leaders 14th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway 13th, mistake next, led and mistake 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well
prominent to 4th, soon behind, never on terms after
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, reminders 11th, headway 14th, weakened after 4 out
disputed 3rd to 12th, chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, stayed on
tracked leaders, disputed lead 12th, headed next, mistake 15th, soon weakened
led to 12th, faded from next
tracked leaders, disputed lead 12th, mistake next, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on
never dangerous
held up behind, headway after 14th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace
in tocuh, headway 12th, every chance and mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, one paced after
The Richard Phillips-trained La Landier has been a revelation this season winning her last five starts, the last three in handicap company, a run that has seen her handicap mark rise 25lbs. While the mare may still be improving, she has more on her plate here and it is interesting that Richard Johnson deserts the eight-year-old in favour of Gunther McBride. Ground conditions should suit the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding but, off a 14lb higher mark than 12 months ago, he looks opposable. Topweight Fondmort represents the yard of Nicky Henderson that has such a fine record at the course. The Tripleprint Gold Cup winner has to be respected but was well held off this mark here last time over two miles and is not certain to stay today's trip. Chicuelo has bounced back to form since his disappointing display in the Thomas Pink but this is tougher and his jumping remains suspect, so Montreal may be the pick of the Pipe trio. The novice Bold Investor takes a big step up in class and, judged by his run in Doncaster's Great Yorkshire Chase last time, may not be up to the task. Grand National hopeful Carbury Cross has failed to sparkle in three starts so far this term and is best discounted along with Ferdy Murphy's Historg who is much better under more testing conditions. Zafarabad has claims on the form shown when winning the skybet.com Gold Cup over course and distance in October and a two-month absence should not hinder his chances as the grey goes well when fresh. He could go close but narrow preference is for Maximize. Henrietta Knight's gelding has been the subject of sustained support on the run-up to this race with the ground conditions very much in his favour. All three of the gelding's career successes have come on good ground and having had only two previous starts this term he comes here fresher than most. A creditable staying on fourth behind the race fit Swansea Bay in Wincanton's Badger Brewery Chase on his reappearance, the selection lost no caste in defeat off level weights behind the Gold Cup-bound Valley Henry at Sandown subsequently and, off 10st 10lbs, he looks worth chancing in a typically competitive renewal of this race.
