held up, headway 6th, slow 11th, lost place before not fluent next, behind 14th, pulled up after
held up in touch, hampered 3 out, not clear run on last bend, bumped 2 out, switched right and challenging when out-jumped last, stayed on flat, led close home
led 2nd, headed 4th, led 6th until 10th, led 12th, driven flat, headed close home
not fluent in rear, headway 9th, mistake next, close 2nd when mistake 3 out, bumped 2 out, weakened flat
jumped left at times, tracked leaders, lost place 8th, headway before 12th, outpaced before 2 out, weakened last
led until 2nd, led 4th, headed 6th, led 10th until mistake 12th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
This sextet are only separated by 3lb in the handicap. Gold Patrol acquitted himself well on his debut under Rules at Huntingdon and Jarlath was a relatively comfortable winner over these fences last month, though this trip may prove beyond him. Barbrook Star was a close third on his chasing bow at Chepstow, well ahead of Quarenta, and there will be more to come but course and distance winner MUCKLE ROE should be approaching peak fitness after a couple of runs this season and the handicapper has given him a chance today. Paddy The Oscar will be 16 in a few weeks’ time and may need this.
Jarlath 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 12th, led approaching 4 out, driven clear after 2 out, ridden out, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating West Wizard (12-0) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Quarenta (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 5 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 14, 21l behind Glen Forsa (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Muckle Roe (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, awkward 2nd, pushed along approaching 4 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 9, 22 1/2l behind Gardiners Hill (10-10) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Barbrook Star (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden to challenge 3 out, soon under pressure, kept on well closing stages, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Glen Forsa (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Gold Patrol (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Keen close up, ridden and headway 2 out, switched right flat, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 4l behind By The Boardwalk (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Paddy The Oscar (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Led until bypassing normal 3 out, no extra flat, 5th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Looks Like Power (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
