held up towards rear, mistakes 8th and 9th, weakened from 13th, tailed off before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, lost 3rd place after last
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, held in 5th when fell last
tracked leader, ridden after 4 out, went 4th before 3 out, chased clear pair after last, no impression
held up towards rear, headway before 12th, led 2 out, pressed from last, kept on well towards finish
held up towards rear, hit 10th, mistake 12th, soon reminders and weakened, soon tailed off, pulled up 2 out
tracked leaders, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, weakened from 11th, tailed off 13th
Canal Bank scored under today's rider at Market Rasen earlier this month, but faces stiffer competition here off a 5lb higher mark. Tony McCoy is on board stablemate Afistfullofpebbles so an improved effort is expected from him after being well beaten in a couple of starts early this year, but the vote goes to TAFIKA. Paul Webber's chaser wasn't disgraced in heavy ground at Warwick off today's mark in February having scored at Leicester before that and can make a winning reappearance for a yard in decent form. A dual winner over hurdles, Cotswold Charmer should go well on his chasing debut and makes most appeal of the remainder.
Afistfullofpebbles 8-1 (11-3) Led narrowly, headed 12th, lost place 14th, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 11, 43l behind Far More Serious (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Tafika 3-1 (10-12) Led and set slow pace, jumped slowly 1st, mistake 3rd, joined 13th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with winner flat, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 5, 8l behind Stoney's Treasure (10-12) at Warwick 3m nov chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Phardessa 10-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, blundered 6 out, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by As De Fer (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 8 ran.
Vin De Roy (FR) 100-1 (10-10) Behind, jumped slowly 1st, under pressure 13th, soon beaten, 6th of 8, well behind Teaforthree (11-1) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) hvy.
Cotswold Charmer (IRE) 9-2 (9-12) Raced wide, held up in rear, headway before 4 out, ridden and chased leaders when stumbled badly 3 out, weakened and beaten when blundered next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Barafundle (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov '10.
Western Whisky (FR) 14-1 (11-3) In touch on outer, fell 7th, in a race won by Strongbows Legend (11-3) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 12 ran.
Canal Bank (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Held up in touch, slow 3rd, outpaced 4 out, headway before 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs beating Copper's Gold (11-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Notabotheronme (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Chased leader, hit 15th, driven after 17th, lost 2nd before 4 out, weakened and modest 6th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Drybrook Bedouin (11-8) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 13 ran.
