held up in touch, closed before 3 out, challenged next, led approaching last, all out
tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 6th, in rear after next, tailed off 10th, pulled up before next
took keen hold, mid-division, headway when hit 8th, tracking leaders when started to hang left after 3 out, never able to challenge, continued to hang badly left, one pace flat
mid-division, in touch when not fluent 12th, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, soon well beaten
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on under pressure flat, unable to quite get to winner
held up, mistakes 8th and 9th, headway 12th, hit 4 out, ridden after next, hit 2 out, no extra flat
in touch in mid-division, hampered badly and lost place 11th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, hit 4 out, challenged next, led before 2 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division on outside, lost place 4th, behind 8th, pulled up before 4 out
pressed leader, not fluent 6th, led 9th, ridden and headed when hit 2 out, not much room last, one pace flat
led, jumped right 8th, headed when not fluent next, 8th and beaten when blundered 2 out
mid-division on inside, lost place when not fluent 9th, hampered 11th, towards rear when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 7th, jumped slowly 11th, challenged after 3 out, led before next, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, no impression on front pair
in touch in mid-division, reminder and lost place after 5th, not fluent and behind from 8th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, pushed along after 11th, no impression when wide on bend after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up, mistake 7th, headway 11th, blundered 4 out, outpaced next, no impression on leaders after
held up, not much room 9th, headway next, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in rear, driven after 4 out, some late headway, never any chance
mid-division on outside, headway approaching 6th, blundered next, in touch when mistake 11th, lost place from next, mistake 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, fell 11th
Carlito Brigante has won at the Festival in the past and has a decent record at Cheltenham. He could well figure in this off what looks a decent mark. Useful staying hurdler Restless Harry is another potentially well handicapped but he's often let down by his jumping while Colour Squadron has also been far from foot perfect so far over fences. Vulcanite may find this too competitive but there are possibilities about Shangani, on a hat-trick after victories at Sandown and Catterick, while Kruzhlinin beat a good yardstick in Conquisto at Kelso. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the likes of Night Nurse, Little Owl and Alverton were hogging the headlines at The Festival but the Easterbys still have no hesitation sending one down to Cheltenham if they think they have a chance of collecting some prize money and FOURJACKS might be worth an interest in this. He's taking this easier option despite being entered in the RSA Chase and his only relative failure so far has been when unable to cope with Grade 2 company at Wetherby last month. The soft ground is definitely in his favour. Ohio Gold hasn't had much luck so far but is running well and shouldn't be ignored along with easy Wincanton winner The Druids Nephew.
Rajdhani Express 4-1 (11-7) Mistake 1st, mid-division, dropped towards rear after 7th, some headway under pressure 4 out, well beaten 5th when sprawled 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Vino Griego (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Kruzhlinin (GER) 6-1 (11-7) With leader, challenged 2 out, ridden before last, soon led, kept on well towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (3) hvy in Feb beating Conquisto (11-7) by 8l, 3 ran.
Colour Squadron (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in 6th, hit 10th, headway to 4th approaching 4 out, went 3rd before last, stayed on flat, went 2nd in closing stages, never any chance of reaching winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Theatrical Star (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Klepht (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Settled in rear, 5th 4 out, pushed along 2 out and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 5th of 6, 12l behind Boston Bob (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f nov chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
Ackertac (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Not much room 1st, towards rear, struggling when hampered 11th, never near leaders, 5th of 13, well behind Vino Griego (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Vulcanite (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) In rear and in touch, mistake 2nd, headway 4 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Kealigolane (11-0) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Carlito Brigante (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up tracking leading trio, went 3rd at 13th, effort on outside approaching 2 out, disputing 2nd when not fluent 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 5, 18l behind Dynaste (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Shangani (USA) 7-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, closed 8th, led before 3 out, clear flat, comfortably, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating Mr Syntax (11-5) by 6l, 9 ran.
Fourjacks 10-11fav (11-7) Led, headed 5 out, left in lead 4 out, a length up and going well when left clear 2 out, eased run-in, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Brief Mark (11-0) by 49l, 4 ran.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 2-1 (10-5) Made virtually all, joined 5 out, hit 3 out, soon ridden, drew clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Jan beating Grandioso (11-2) by 10l, 3 ran.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on outside, led before 8th, headed after next, jumped right and not fluent 12th, weakened after 3 out, badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Rocky Creek (11-5) at Warwick 3m nov chs (2) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Bobowen (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, not fluent next, challenged 4 out, soon led, ridden approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Whispering Gallery (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Ohio Gold (IRE) 15-8fav (11-8) In touch, every chance 4 out, chased clear winner before last, no impression, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Cloudy Too (11-11) at Haydock 2m 4f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (3) hvy in Feb.
Restless Harry 17-2 (11-7) Led, headed before 4 out, soon weakened and blundered
Howard's Legacy (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Held up behind leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 4 out, mistake 2 out, soon clear, reduced advantge flat, held on, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Feb beating Quarl Ego (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway under pressure after 4 out, 5th when mistake next, soon beaten, 6th of 13, well behind Vino Griego (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Hazy Tom (IRE) 15-8fav (11-11) Mid-division, blundered 1st, headway before 5 out, led before 2 out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Swift Arrow (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Nataani (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, prominent from 3rd, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Easter Day (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Feb.
Arthur's Pass 5-4fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 13th, responded to come through to lead 4 out, hit next, clear 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Ludlow 2m 4f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (3) gs in Feb beating Kie (10-13) by 7l, 3 ran.
Saved By John (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 10th, mistake 5 out, hampered 3 out, no extra, 5th of 11, 28l behind Pacha Du Polder (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
