with leader, led after 7th until 12th, led 14th until approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up, not fluent 8th (water), outpaced 14th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, steady headway 11th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and edged left approaching last, driven out
prominent, mistake 7th, pulled up before 11th (tack problems)
led until after 7th, mistake 9th, led 12th until 14th, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, switched right approaching last, still every chance flat, held towards finish
mistake 1st, not fluent in rear, behind 11th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 5th, mistake 7th, hit 12th, outpaced 14th, rallied 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression last
tracked leaders, ridden after 14th, hit 4 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, lost place 3rd, hit 6th, struggling 10th, behind 12th, pulled up before 4 out
VAMIZI has run well on both starts over fences here and gets the vote to go one better than when gunned down by Ammunition last time. He battled on really bravely that day on his first start of the year and although a 5lb rise isn't ideal it's certainly fair, with the winner and third having fought out the finish at Towcester since. Son Histoire has over 20 lengths to find on that run but he's likely to improve plenty for it and conditions should be similar to those faced at Chepstow in April. Victory Parade won after a lengthy absence last year but this won't be easy on his first try over larger obstacles, so Swing Bill is perhaps best of the rest. David Pipe won this race last year and his charge enjoyed these conditions in France yet hasn't faced them here yet so could yet improve.
Swing Bill (FR) 7-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 4 out, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat, 2nd of 18, 6l behind Quattrocento (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Moleskin (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Led, jinked right and reminders passing paddock exit after 3rd, headed after 3 out, weakened flat, just nudged out when lost 3rd post, 4th of 9, 12l behind Bai Zhu (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Iconoclast (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Soon led, headed 4th, led next until hit 7th, chased winner after, no impression approaching 4 out, lost 2nd before next and weakened, 3rd of 5, 33l behind Maktu (10-7) at Haydock 3m nov chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Apr.
Victory Parade (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Led to 2nd, led 6th, headed 8th, one pace 2 out, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Minella Boys (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Vamizi (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Led, under pressure from 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on gamely flat, headed final 100 yards, just held towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Ammunition (10-8) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Deep Quest 18-1 (11-12) Made most until blundered badly and lost place 6th, outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Notabotheronme (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Son Histoire (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, mistake 8th, headway approaching 13th, chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 10, 23l behind Ammunition (10-8) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Clyffe Hanger (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leading duo, tracked winner 4th until after 7th, stayed in 3rd until hit 5 out, brief rally before 2 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 5, 14l behind Balthazar King (11-4) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
What A Scientist (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Tracked leader until 3rd, about 5 lengths down in 3rd when badly hampered 3 out, not recover, 4th of 6, well behind Macs Lad (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
