chased leaders until stumbled badly and unseated rider
chased leader, led 4th, hard pressed from 3 out, driven out
chased leaders, headed 9th, ridden after next, stayed on from last
led until 4th, with winner until 10th, soon ridden, stayed on from last
hedl up, headway 8th, challenged 3 out, every chance last, no extra
behind, lost touch, 10th, tailed off
A chance is taken with Dev in a trappy finale although any rain would be a negative. Support for Offemont would make him of interest but most have a fair bit to prove. Dev has been no match for the likes of Moon Over Miami and Leslingtaylor on his last two starts but this is more realistic. He should have more to offer as a chaser and it's always worth taking note when Jamie Moore rides for this yard. Launde is back on a decent mark but appears to have lost his way and is difficult to recommend until showing a little more. Its Crucial has done the majority of his racing over further, he jumps well and is consistent but could be tapped for toe at this trip. Offemont is just 2lbs higher than when winning last year's renewal but he has been well held the last twice and is opposable unless the money arrives. It's easy enough to discard the other three runners too and we'll come back to Dev for our selection.
Launde (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led, headed 6th, weakened 8th, 8th of 13, 25l behind Roman Ark (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Dev (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Led, ridden 2 out, soon headed, hung right and weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 25l behind Moon Over Miami (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Its Crucial (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) With leader, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Bring Me Sunshine (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Colliers Court 9-2 (11-7) Led, raced freely early, mistake 3 out, driven and headed after next, stayed on same pace, last of 3, 4l behind Adopted Hero (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
Kervriou (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Chased leaders until lost touch 7th, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Noland (11-3) at Sandown 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb.
Lulumar (FR) 25-1 (10-3) Close up, led 4th, headed 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 4th of 9, 23l behind Mokum (10-7) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Offemont (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Reluctant to race, slowly away, held up, pushed along approaching 6th, struggling when mistake 7th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Letalus (10-10) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
