held up, headway 8th, ridden to chase winner 4 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression on winner
made all, soon clear until reminder 8th, clear again approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well
held up, outpaced 10th, weakened after 4 out
held up, headway and hit 4 out, soon ridden, kept on from 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden, kept on from 2 out
held up, ridden 10th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, headway 8th, weakened 4 out
chased clear leader until 4 out, weakened next
Ibal made a winning return to the stable of Paul Nicholls when scoring at Leicester last month and, with conditions again to suit, he is taken to defy an 8lb rise in the weights with Kalca Mome and Noisetine rated the main dangers. Topweight Kalca Mome is equally effective over fences and hurdles but seems plenty high enough in the handicap at present and faces no easy task giving the selection 23lbs. Micky Hammond's Deep Water is gradually slipping to a fair mark but would probably not want the ground as testing as this and of more interest may be Martin Pipe's Latitude, who remains potentially well treated but does tend to make mistakes at his fences. Gatorade can be expected to run his usual good race, while the Venetia Williams-trained Noisetine is another consistent performer if a shade high in the handicap. Ibal is still well treated on his best though, seems rejuvenated by the switch of stables and can follow up under his ideal conditions.
Kalca Mome (FR) 16-1 Led to 2 out, weakened rapidly, 16th of 19, well behind Medison at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Mar.
Noisetine (FR) 7-2 (last 4 fences omitted) led to 5f out, lost place over 3f out, 4th of 7, 22l behind Polar Scout at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Mar.
Deep Water (USA) 4-1 Held up in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 48l behind Undeniable at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Mar.
Latitude (FR) 66-1 Behind, tailed off when mistake and fell 2 out in race won by Juveigneur at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Mar, 24 ran.
Gatorade (NZ) 11-2 Took keen hold, held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, challenged 5 out, led 4 out, jumped last, headed and not quicken flat, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Undeniable at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Mar.
Bunkum 12-1 In touch, lost place 8th, soon behind, 10th of 12, well behind Olney Lad at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) sft in Feb.
Galway Breeze (IRE) 33-1 Held up, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, 10th of 11, well behind Old Marsh at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Mar.
Ibal (FR) 7-4fav In touch, headway 5th, led 7th to 8th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, left clear last, driven out, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Mar beating Impertio by 8l, 9 ran.
