led, driven and headed approaching 3 out, weakened next
raced towards rear but in touch, chased leaders 5th, ridden to challenge 2 out, led before last, ran on well
held up in touch, chased leaders 5th, ridden to challenge after 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leader, ridden and weakened before 3 out, soon beaten
held up in touch, slow 4th, lost place next, mistake 7th, soon behind, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up after 2 out
prominent, joined leader approaching 7th, led before 3 out, headed before last, no extra
held up in rear, slow 2nd, chased leaders 4 out, weakened next
NATIONAL TRUST comes here with the benefit of a recent run under his belt and can return to winning ways. A close fourth in a jumpers' bumper at Kempton just before Christmas, the nine-year-old faces lesser opposition today and had previously completed a hat-trick over timber in claimers and sellers. Knight Legend is dropped in grade and should be in the firing-line, but he's still to win since arriving from Ireland in 2008. Liberty Seeker has been a regular winner at this level down the years and will find this easier than when taking on Menorah and company at Cheltenham last month while Celticello can't be ignored, though may just need the run today.
National Trust 7-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, no impression on leaders, 4th of 10, 5l behind Giorgio Quercus (11-0) at Kempton 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Celticello (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, fell 3 out, in a race won by Phidippides (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Liberty Seeker (FR) 250-1 (11-0) Behind, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, last of 9, well behind Menorah (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Hoh Viss 100-1 (10-13) Prominent, fell 3rd, in a race won by Grafite (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Humbel Times (IRE) 200-1 (10-5) In rear when brought down 7th, in a race won by Frascati Park (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Knight Legend (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Towards rear, ridden along 10th, no danger after, 8th of 17, 28l behind Fine Parchment (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd in Dec.
Mymateeric 50-1 (11-2) Towards rear, never dangerous, 11th of 14, 24l behind Gilded Age (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
