in rear, headway on outside before 4th, lost place 9th, ridden 13th, well behind 16th, tailed off
led 2nd, slow and headed 6th, led 8th, drew clear from 2 out, stayed on
soon in touch, slow and lost place 4th, closed 9th, lost place 3 out, soon pulled up
in touch towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 7th
carried left start, in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 8th or 11th, pushed along 11th, slow 12th, well behind 16th, left remote 4th after 4 out
edged left start, soon prominent, led 6th, headed 8th, no impression on winner from 2 out, weakened last, lost 2nd flat
towards rear, headway 11th, ridden 17th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
led until 2nd, in touch, outpaced in 3rd after 4 out, no impression, well held 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
COOLVALLA remains unbeaten over fences having landed a hat-trick with another victory over these obstacles. He can defy a hike in the weights given the ease of that latest success. Juniper scored at Wetherby off the same mark as when winning over hurdles here earlier though is 7lb higher today while Alkopop has been thereabouts recently and is preferred to Echo Watt. D'jango showed signs of a resurgence at Plumpton last time and could go well.
Achille (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, struggling from 6 out, tailed off, 11th of 15, dist behind Bangers And Cash (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Coolvalla (IRE) 13-8fav (11-10) Led, briefly headed 10th, one length clear 4 out, ridden and pressed for lead 3 out, two lengths clear 2 out, good jump last, stayed on well run-in, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Jeffery's Cross (12-2) by 19l, 9 ran.
Juniper 9-4jfav (11-2) Jumped well throughout, 12 lengths clear approaching 4 out, went further clear next, kept on well, impressive, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Gazette Bourgeoise (12-1) by 27l, 5 ran.
Alkopop (GER) 11-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, led before 4 out until before next, well held home turn, lost 2nd at the last, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 5 1/4l behind Loup De Maulde (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
D'jango (FR) 22-1 (10-4) In rear of mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon ridden along, kept on well to go third towards finish, no match for first two, 3rd of 11, 5 3/4l behind Atakan (10-8) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Echo Watt (FR) 4-1 (12-2) In touch in mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 4 out, weakening when hampered 3 out, 4th of 10, 26 1/2l behind Galtee Mountain (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 6f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Vinnie Dev (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Mid-division, not fluent throughout, dropped to rear from 12th, pulled up after 5 out, at Fakenham 3m 5f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Colonel Keating (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) In rear, not fluent early, pushed along 8th, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Gats And Co (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
