tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, 6 lengths 4th when jumped left and blundered 3 out, well held after
disputed lead until 4th, challenged again 6th, led next, headed next, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, stayed with every chance until held towards finish
made most until 7th, slow and lost place next, last when mistake 9th, well beaten from 4 out
in touch in rear, not fluent 7th, outpaced 4 out, no impression
in touch in rear, jumped left 4th, closed on outside 8th, challenged 10th, driven before 3 out, soon one pace, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders on outside, 2nd after 7th, challenged next, led 10th, headed after 4 out, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on, drawing clear towards finish
Winning pointer Jonagold has been out of luck so far under Rules and was tailed off on his chasing bow. Starkie isn’t really firing at present but continues his slide down the ratings. Norse Light has been second a couple of times over fences but has been campaigned over hurdles since falling at Ludlow in November. MONTE WILDHORN has only raced twice over the larger obstacles and better ground will suit David Bridgwater’s nine-year-old so he gets a tentative vote ahead of Bally Lagan, who won a moderate contest at Leicester in January but is 9lb higher now.
Jonagold 12-1 (11-1) Led to 3rd, reminders 6 out, weakened from 5 out, 5th of 10, dist behind West Wizard (11-13) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Starkie 9-2 (11-1) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd from 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 8, 22 3/4l behind Rock On Rocky (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Monte Wildhorn (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Prominent, hampered 3rd, lost a bit of ground when hampered 5th, outpaced 4 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 21 1/4l behind Crown Hill (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Norse Light 13-2 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 5th, weakening in 7th next, 6th of 12, dist behind Allee Bleue (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Irish Thistle (IRE) 25-1 (12-5) Held up in last pair, some headway after 11th, outpaced and dropped to rear next, ridden and struggling before 16th, fell next, at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Bally Lagan (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 5 out, led 4 out, kept on well from last, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jan beating Tommy The Rascal (10-4) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
