took keen hold, made all, clear after 1st until jumped right 2nd, ridden and 1 length up when left clear last
tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, slow and behind 4th, not fluent 6th, well behind next, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, ridden before 3 out, mistake and beaten when 3rd 2 out, no impression when left 2nd last
held up, in touch when blundered 7th, went 2nd 2 out, 1 length down when mistake, stumbled and unseated rider last
mostly chased winner until 6th, ridden and weakened before 5 out
held up, closed 2nd, chased winner 6th until not fluent 5 out, weakened from next
Mister Grez was highly tried after winning at Bangor and Catterick at the turn of the year. A recent win over hurdles will have restored confidence and Dan Skelton's charge has to go on the short-list. Whispering Harry has won three of his six starts over fences but his latest second at Taunton hinted that he may be high enough in the weights now. Kudu Country last won over fences three years ago and hasn't sparkled over hurdles lately but Lord Of House is only a couple of pounds higher than when winning at Ludlow last year and could go well if fully wound-up. OSCAR HILL weakened quickly at Wincanton last month but looked as though he needed that run. He's back in the right grade today and can take this on his best form.
Oscar Hill (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leader in strongly run race, hit 2nd, led 4 out, headed before next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 46l behind Keel Haul (10-0) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb.
Lord Of House (GER) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leader until 4th, chased leading pair until 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, 43l behind Beau Lake (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Mister Grez (FR) 2-1 (10-10) Made all, pressed when not fluent 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on well, in command final 100 yards, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Herbert Park (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Kudu Country (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, badly hampered 4th, headway after 6th, ridden and lost place before 3 out, 8th of 13, 12l behind Ascendant (11-5) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Whispering Harry 13-8 (10-12) Led until after 5th, led 6th until 8th, pushed along to lead 3 out, blundered 2 out, headed last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 3, 3l behind Crookstown (11-5) at Taunton 2m nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Itsuptoyou (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, struggling 9th, not fluent next, soon well behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Pearls Legend (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
