tracked winner, challenged 8th, led 10th, headed next, not fluent 14th, mistake 3 out, beaten from next
led, not fluent 8th, headed 10th, led again next, hit 13th, not fluent 3 out, clear from next
chased leaders, went left 1st, last 7th, blundered and well beaten from 12th, took 3rd post
held up, not much room when mistake 1st, 3rd from 7th, jumped right and knuckled on landing 13th, hit 15th, mistake and weakened 3 out, lost 3rd post
Clondaw Cian made a winning reappearance over hurdles at Cheltenham last season and has already won a point-to-point so should make a chaser. Exeter winner Coastal Tiep and Captain Chaos have experience on their side but the former has a penalty and is upped in class while the latter usually flatters to deceive. GEORDIE DES CHAMPS would have been the best of these over hurdles, even though he can be a little inconsistent. He's making his debut over the larger obstacles but the step up to 3m should help him get a view of the fences and he's probably the one to beat with a clear round.
Coastal Tiep (FR) 7-4 (11-5) Tracked leading pair, awkward 7th, pushed along after 14th, 2nd before 4 out, led 3 out, clear and not doing much in front run-in, driven right out, won at Exeter 3m (4) gd in Oct beating Wotzizname (11-5) by 7l, 4 ran.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) In touch in rear, ridden and weakened before 4 out, last of 6, 28 1/4l behind Mia's Storm (10-7) at Chepstow 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Clondaw Cian (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, ridden and struggling after 9th, well beaten from next, 17th of 24, 31 3/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 9th approaching 4th, pushed along after 4 out, no extra from before straight, 15th of 24, 28 3/4l behind Open Eagle (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
