chased leaders, outpaced from 11th, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leader, led 2nd, jumped left and not fluent 5th, soon headed, led again 12th, clear after 2 out, stayed on well
held up, headway from 13th, one pace in 4th 3 out, went 3rd from 2 out, stayed on towards finish, no impression on winner
held up, pulled hard, soon in touch, led after 5th, mistake next, not fluent 10th, stumbled 11th, headed 12th, mistake 4 out, no impression on winner from 2 out
led until mistake 2nd, stayed handy, mistake 3 out, beaten in 4th from next
Josh Guerriero will give Checkerboard, who sports cheekpieces for the first time here, a good ride and Latest Trend ran well between the flags last month. But PICAROON was thought good enough to contest the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham in 2012 and has turned in a couple of decent performances in jumpers' bumpers lately. He may have too much pace for these if his jumping holds up. Double Bank and Restezen D'Armor both need to improve recent form to figure.
Checkerboard (IRE) 6-1 (12-4) Prom til wknd 10; to, 6th of 7, 47l behind Cock Of The Rock (12-7) at Black Forest Lodge 3m ptp gd in Dec.
Double Bank (IRE) 5-2 (12-5) Led to 3; wkng when blun 3 out, 6th of 16, 35l behind Nobby Kivambo (12-5) at Mid Devon 3m ptp gs.
Latest Trend (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up; gd hdwy 14; ev ch last; nt qckn flat, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Master Medic (11-0) at Royal Artillery 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Picaroon 6-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, held up in touch on inside, not clear run over 3f out, ridden and no impression on leading pair 2f out, edged right and went 3rd over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Mitchell's Way (11-2) at Southwell 2m 2f n h flat (4) std.
Restezen D'armor (FR) 25-1 (12-0) (cp) a bhnd; to & pu 2 out, in a race won by Penmore Mill (12-7) at Silverton 3m ptp gd in Jan, 7 ran.
