held up in rear, headway to track leaders on outside 8th, beaten 4 out, soon weakened, behind when hit 2 out
held up, not fluent 3rd or 9th, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, kept on flat take 2nd towards finish
always prominent, mistake 5th, chased winner 6th, hit next, lost 2nd 8th, chased winner again from 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra towards finish
kept away from others at start, joined leader 2nd, led after 4th, clear when hit 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely flat
mid-division, mistake 5th, headway to track leaders approaching 9th, pushed along before next, 3rd approaching 3 out, weakened before last
led, headed after 4th, lost place before 7th, last after 8th, well behind when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-divison, not fluent 3rd, hit 8th, driven after 10th, headway approaching 3 out, beaten approaching 2 out
held up, jumped right 3rd, mistake 5th, hit 7th, headway to chase leaders next, outpaced 10th, rallied approaching 3 out, stayed on flat to take 3rd towards finish
chased leader until not fluent 2nd, settled in touch, not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, ridden 10th, soon weakened
O'Toole may be the safest option in a tricky opener which could change in complexion as Forest Green was declared to run here on Thursday. The selection has won four of his ten starts over fences now, including over course and distance last time, and looks to have every chance of maintaining his sequence from just a 4lb higher mark. He had some useful sorts in Saintsaire, Kalca Mome and Maljimar behind him last time and should be able to get the better of this opposition. Magic Sky could go well, veteran Bleu Superbe can't be dismissed and nor can Its Crucial nor Ela Re but, in truth, not many can. That said, there are solid reasons to oppose each and every one of them and the lack of a recent run for our selection could be a cause for concern. His in-form trainer is more than capable of having him spot on for his return to action though whilst some of his opponents have been on the go for a while now, so we're happy to side with O'Toole.
Forest Green (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Held up, hampered 11th, struggling after, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Endless Power (10-3) at Aintree 2m 4f amt nov hcp chs (2) gd, 15 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Held up, headway after 4 out, one pace from next, never dangerous, 5th of 18, 9l behind Stan (9-9) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Led, stumbled 7th, headed next, led 10th, blundered badly 3 out, headed and weakened, last of 8, 25l behind Vinmix De Bessy (10-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.
Ela Re 25-1 (9-10) Behind, weakened 8th and fell at the last in race won by Stan (9-9) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs, 18 ran.
O'Toole (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Chased leader until 9th, went 2nd again when hit 3 out, soon ridden, led flat, stayed on well, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec beating Saintsaire (11-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Scalloway (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Led to 2nd, chased leader after, led again after 3 out, headed flat, no extra, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Rooster's Reunion (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Aug '06.
Flying Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway 8th, ridden after 4 out, every chance 2 out, switched right approaching last, not run on flat, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Risk Accessor (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Its Crucial (IRE) 7-2fav (10-0) Not fluent, tracked leaders, headway 8th, led approaching 11th, headed when mistake last, one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind King Louis (11-2) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs (2) gd.
Genghis (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 4th until after 11th, soon ridden and weakened, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Theatre Diva (9-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft in Mar, 6 ran.
Brave Villa (FR) 11-4 (10-13) Led, soon well clear, headed approaching 3 out, 2 lengths down but rallying when fell at the last in race won by Coach Lane (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar, 4 ran.
