held up early stages, bumped 4th, headway to track leading pair 7th, tracked leader 10th, left in lead 11th, narrowly headed 15th, led again 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, easily
chased leaders, pushed along and struggling 15th, soon lost touch, tailed off when refused last
raced wide, behind, mistake 4th, left in 4th at 11th, stumbled 14th, behind and struggling next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up but in touch, left 3rd at 11th, pushed along before 2 out, stayed on same pace and soon beaten
led, hit 7th, landed steeply and fell 11th
chased leader until 10th, stayed in close 3rd, left chasing winner at 11th, hit next, led 15th until 3 out, chased winner, well held from 2 out, kept on well for clear 2nd
chased leaders, went left and mistake 3rd, jumped slowly 5th dropped to rear from 7th, soon lost touch well behind when pulled up before 11th
Iheardu has got his act together this season and, after winning at Cheltenham, was far from disgraced off his new mark at Kempton last time. He's one for the short-list here as is the hat-trick-seeking Graduation Night, though the latter would probably prefer a softer surface than he'll get today. Ballagio has won two of his last three starts but is 8lb higher than his last victory at Kempton, while Le Corvee also looks high enough in the weights. BOUNDS AND LEAPS lacks the experience of some of these but ran his rivals ragged on his fencing bow at Chepstow and may take some catching if jumping with the same alacrity here.
Graduation Night Evensfav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 7th, led before 5 out, ridden clear before last, won at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy beating Father Probus (11-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
Le Corvee (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed 7th, chased leader, ridden before 3 out, challenged under pressure next, stayed on same pace approaching last, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Just Victor (10-6) at Stratford 2m 4f Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gf in Oct.
Ballagio (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 11th, went 2nd before 13th, led after 14th, clear approaching 3 out, stayed on, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct beating Key Cutter (11-12) by 7l, 7 ran.
Iheardu (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in last pair in touch, dropped to rear at 13th, headway before 3 out chased winner 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Handtheprizeover (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Bounds And Leaps 14-1 (11-10) Made all, clear 5 out, ran on strongly, unchallenged, won at Chepstow 3m cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd in Oct beating Kilvergan Boy (11-10) by 21l, 10 ran.
Princely Hero (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Never going in rear, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off when blunderd 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Magot De Grugy (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy, 10 ran.
Bishophill Jack (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 5 out, soon beaten, 7th of 12, 19l behind Wyck Hill (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
