mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway when hit 5th, hit 4 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off
held up in rear, headway after 5th, lost place before 8th, pulled up approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, reminders after 3rd, jumped right 4th and next, went 2nd 7th until mistake next, 4th and beaten when hung left after 3 out, weakened next
led, not fluent 1st, headed 4th, prominent, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, mistake when not much room 4th, lost place next, hit 6th, struggling approaching 7th, tailed off
towards rear, not fluent 4th, hit 6th, pulled up before 7th
towards rear, ridden and behind after 7th, stayed on from 3 out, went 4th after 2 out, kept on flat to take 3rd post
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway after 7th, blundered next, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, headway when hampered 5th, not much room when going into 2nd 8th, led after 2 out, edged left approaching last, stayed on
in rear, behind 7th, tailed off
with leader, led 4th, blundered badly 4 out, soon ridden, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, lost 3rd post
chased leaders, lost place before 7th, blundered badly when weakening 4 out, tailed off
Irish Guard returned to form over this trip at Leicester in November and bolted up over shorter at Towcester last month. He's clearly at the top of his game and can't be discounted. Cesium may just need this first run of the season but Supreme Keano had a good blow after his reappearance at Wetherby and should strip fitter here. High Jack should also be approaching peak fitness now but Western Whisky may need a little longer after falling on his return to action at Uttoxeter. RUSSIAN SONG was also an early casualty last time but had shown a deal of promise in his first start over fences at Exeter and, on a potentially decent mark here, could represent some value in an open race.
Cesium (FR) 9-1 (10-9) Led briefly 2nd, with winner, not fluent and reminder 7th, lost place 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 13, 24l behind Midnight Chase (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Irish Guard 12-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 4th, led 7th, came clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec beating Handtheprizeover (11-3) by 18l, 10 ran.
Supreme Keano (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, hit 1st, jumped right 2nd and 5th, effort approaching 4 out, one pace when not fluent 2 out, weakened when jumped right last, 4th of 6, 20l behind Le Platino (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, soon tracked leaders, lost place approaching 12th, tailed off 6 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Midnight Haze (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
High Jack (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, pushed along in rear when hit 11th, stayed on to poor 4th 2 out, hit last, 4th of 8, 28l behind Flemish Invader (11-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Russian Song (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Mid-division on outside when fell 1st, in a race won by Major Malarkey (11-6) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Western Whisky (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Held up in 4th when fell heavily 5th, in a race won by Fine Parchment (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
Strongbows Legend 13-2 (11-3) Mid-division, chased leaders 5 out, ridden 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 18, 24l behind Rimini (11-5) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Brenin Cwmtudu 10-3 (11-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 11th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Backfromthecongo (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Mokum (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Always behind, 12th of 18, 46l behind Rimini (11-5) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Festival Dreams 12-1 (9-13) Hampered 1st, with leaders, led 5th to 7th, in touch when blundered and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Rimini (11-5) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec, 18 ran.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, 8th of 18, 37l behind Pocketwood (11-9) at Exeter 2m 5f 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
