held up towards rear, jumped slowly 1st, not fluent 6th, pushed along 8th, not fluent 11th or 13th, mistake 3 out, well held before next
mid-division, blundered 11th, ridden 3 out, headway 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on well, unable to reach winner
pressed leader, led 12th, hit 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, not fluent 10th, headway 13th, ridden and stayed on same pace approaching 2 out, unable to get on terms
chased leaders, mistake 9th (water), soon pulled up
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 13th, not clear run and switched right after 2 out, went 2nd when mistake last, unable to get on terms with winner and soon lost 2nd, one pace
always towards rear
prominent, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, hit 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, behind when not fluent 12th, soon pulled up
chased leaders, jumped right, lost place 13th, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place approaching 4th, pushed along 7th, behind from 11th
tracked leaders, pecked 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, all out
led, jumped left 8th, not fluent 11th, headed next, every chance approaching 2 out, one pace and no impression flat
Johns Spirit beat Colour Squadron by three-quarters-of-a-length in the Paddy Power here last month. But he was treading water close home and the runner-up, who was badly hampered when closing on the leaders two out, must have every chance of turning the tables on slightly better terms. ATTAGLANCE who, like Colour Squadron is still seeking a first victory over fences, was a six-length fourth but racing from out of the handicap that day and meets the winner and second on 9lb and 7lb respectively better terms. A winner over hurdles at The Festival here last year, he may finally be getting the hang of jumping the larger obstacles and can also reverse earlier Perth running with Double Ross to land this nice prize. Cantlow, Easter Meteor and Grandioso filled the places at Newbury at the end of last month. The latter may come out best today but Salut Flo will do well to figure after a long absence and the mare Ma Filleule is racing over fences for the first time in the UK.
Gauvain (GER) 25-1 (11-0) In touch, effort 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression when bumped last, 6th of 17, 9l behind Return Spring (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Nov.
Cantlow (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, blundered 4 out, led last, kept on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov beating Easter Meteor (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Easter Meteor 5-1 (11-8) With leader, blundered 2nd, led 5 out, soon headed, led again 4 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Cantlow (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Patiently ridden towards rear, steady headway 12th, challenged on outside when left in lead 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, held on near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov beating Colour Squadron (10-2) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
Grandioso (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, headway before 7 out, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Cantlow (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov.
Colour Squadron (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 4 out, close up on inside next, every chance when mistake 2 out, soon outpaced in 3rd, ridden and edged left flat, hung left and kept on to take 2nd towards finish, just held, 2nd of 20, 3/4l behind Johns Spirit (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Tap Night (USA) 16-1 (10-12) Behind, outpaced before 3 out, kept on into mid-division before last, never near leaders, 8th of 20, 21l behind Johns Spirit (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Salut Flo (FR) 9-2fav (10-10) Made all, hit 4 out, pushed 3 lengths clear 3 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar '12 beating The Cockney Mackem (10-1) by 6l, 22 ran.
Silver Roque (FR) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, jumped well, headway from halfway, went 2nd 5 out, led 2 out, drew clear before last, very easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov beating Tahiti Pearl (10-13) by 16l, 8 ran.
Ma Filleule (FR) 2-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, soon tracking winner, not fluent 6th, hit 8th, and 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, driven and held when lost 2nd narrowly between last 2, stayed on same pace from last, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Highland Retreat (10-12) at Kempton 3m mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Attaglance 16-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure from last, never reached leaders, 4th of 20, 6l behind Johns Spirit (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Double Ross (IRE) 15-8fav (11-11) Tracked leader, hit 2nd, led 4th, joined 7th, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner in clear 2nd before last, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Niceonefrankie (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Sew On Target (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) In touch, joined leaders on outside 7th, every chance 2 out, kept on until ridden and no extra flat, 2nd of 17, 2 3/4l behind Anay Turge (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Champion Court (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Led, ridden after 3 out, saddle slipped soon after next, mistake last, headed flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Riverside Theatre (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
