in touch, jumped slowly 4th, reminders 5th, lost touch 8th, soon behind
in touch, not fluent 3rd, led 8th, mistake 4 out, quicken clear on bit approaching 3 out, shaken up last, easily
chased leader, challenged 4 out, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
led, not fluent 7th, not fluent and headed next, weakened 4 out
prominent, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace from 3 out
Nonrunner
Zorro De La Vega has struggled in handicaps since winning at Leicester in December and David Pipe's gelding may be best watched, with preference for Farmer's Lad, who is marginally preferred to Adopted Hero. The last mentioned has claims on the pick of his form and should be thereabouts but Gary Moore's gelding has unseated his rider in two of his last three starts and he is hard to back with confidence. Similar comments apply to Chaninbar, who has failed to complete in three of his last four starts and of more interest may be Muhtenbar. Henrietta Knight's gelding has shown a consistent level of form and should again be thereabouts but preference is for Farmer's Lad. Robert and Sally Alner's runner has shown improved form in recent starts and, given further improvement, may be good enough to take the honours here.
Adopted Hero (IRE) 10-3 (10-13) Held up, hit 2nd, left 4th at the 4th, 6 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Bring Me Sunshine (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs, 5 ran.
Chaninbar (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Held up, mistake 1st, mistake 10th, soon outpaced, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Flying Falcon (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov chs (4) sft, 6 ran.
Farmer's Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) In touch, not fluent 5th, led after 7th, ridden and headed 2 out, beaten last, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Sou'wester (11-11) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Kirbys Glen (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led until fell at the 6th in race won by Marodima (11-8) at Wincanton 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar, 4 ran.
Zorro De La Vega (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, hit 2nd, effort 9th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 9, well behind Sou'wester (11-11) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Jumped right throughout, led and soon clear, 13 lengths clear 5 out, ridden and headed soon after last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Mango Catcher (10-10) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Muhtenbar 11-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, left 2nd 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 2nd of 4, 22l behind Marodima (11-8) at Wincanton 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar.