chased leaders, pushed along before 11th, led 4 out, driven along before 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, driven flat, all out
raced keenly, led until 4 out, chased winner until 3 out, weakened and eased before next, tailed off
chased leaders, mistake 7th, badly hampered 13th, not recover, tailed off
chasing leader when fell 13th
took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway on outside 12th, left in close 3rd next, went 2nd 3 out, one pace and no impression on winner when lost 2nd next
in rear, some progress on outside approaching 11th, soon pushed along, weakened 13th, tailed off
held up in last trio, steady headway 12th, left in close 4th at 13th, 3rd 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace under pressure fom last
chased leaders, outpaced 12th, went poor 4th before 2 out
Withdrawn
Alpancho had Rockchasebullett 16 lengths behind when winning here in November but was then pulled up in a better race at Newbury and has been rested since. Speed Master is another returning from a break but Roll The Dice should be all the better for his run at Wincanton last month, his first since April last year, and he makes more appeal than Entertain Me and Free World. THE NEPHEW had a couple of runs in jumpers' bumpers last month and that should have put him spot-on for this. He was in good form in the autumn and the better ground is a big plus. Brody Bleu was third over course and distance in January before finishing fourth behind Cheltenham winner Present View at Kempton and may be the danger.
Speed Master (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, weakened from halfway, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Highway Code (11-9) at Newbury 2m 2f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov.
Wessex King (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Prominent, bumped 2nd, blundered and lost place 5th, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Baile Anrai (11-9) at Leicester 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 6 ran.
Alpancho 16-1 (10-0) Chased leading pair, ridden and weakened after 14th, eased before 4 out, last when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Benvolio (11-0) at Newbury 3m (3) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Brody Bleu (FR) 11-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, disputing close 2nd when blundered and lost place 12th, driven in 5th 4 out, went modest 4th flat, 4th of 10, 17l behind Present View (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
The Nephew (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Held up in last trio, headway on outside over 2f out, wide on home turn, ridden in 6th and plenty to do over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders, 5th of 9, 2l behind Very Noble (11-2) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Entertain Me 11-1 (10-13) Held up in last trio, pushed along after 6th, headway under pressure after next, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 22l behind Iron Butterfly (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Rockchasebullett (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Blundered 2nd, chased leaders, led 4th, hit 7th, mistake and headed 13th, chased winner, every chance when hit 3 out, lost 2nd soon after, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, no extra and lost 3rd close home, 4th of 12, 16l behind Alpancho (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Free World (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, not always fluent, went 2nd 4th until after 8th, beaten from 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 11l behind Riddleofthesands (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Roll The Dice (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, jumped left quite often, led 6th until before 9th, weakened from 4 out, 4th of 5, 34l behind Vif Argent (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
