behind, mistake 4 out, never dangerous
held up, headway 7th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led approaching last, ran on well
with leader, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next
in touch, hit 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra
chased leaders, weakened 7th, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, blundered 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
Connections think plenty of Souffleur, however Tazbar is a horse of some potential and expected to relish the step up to three miles, Keith Reveley's gelding is taken to win this before a crack at the three mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham. He managed to score over a trip that was too short form him last time at Doncaster and a return to further will suit. His northern roots mean that he is still a fair price for the race at Cheltenham and if he were to win this well then he would be a mover one would assume. Souffleur is a similar price in the ante-post market and as long as the rains don't fall then he should run well; his form behind Nenuphar Collonges looks solid. Coe is progressive and should again run his race, with course experience a bonus, whilst Marleybow was outclassed last time out and may be again. The others, including the quirky Sound Accord, appear to be up against it and so we will return to Tazbar as the selection.
Souffleur 11-8fav (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 7th, disputed 2nd from next until 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 5, 30l behind Carruthers (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Tazbar (IRE) 10-3 (11-11) Chased clear leader to 3rd, remained prominent, went 2nd again 3 out, led last, ridden flat, ran on, won at Doncaster 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Jan beating Whiteoak (11-1) by a shd, 7 ran.
Coe (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Chased leader to 5th, ridden approaching 8th, badly outpaced well before 3 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 2nd flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Battlecry (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Jan.
Marleybow (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, 8th of 11, 50l behind Aigle D'or (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Sound Accord (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, shaken up to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, pushed out, won at Newbury 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Double Intruder (10-11) by 11l, 20 ran.
Etxalar (FR) 28-1 (10-12) In touch, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Cryptic (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Rucolino (IRE) 66-1 (10-4) Always behind, tailed off when fell 3 out in race won by Categorical (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f clm chs (3) gs, 12 ran.
