in touch, led narrowly 4 out, joined 2 out, headed and one pace before last, kept on again flat
prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
always behind
prominent, outpaced 15th, stayed on approaching last, kept on flat
behind, hampered 12th, pulled up before next
held up in rear, hampered 12th, pulled up before next
always towards rear
prominent until lost place 10th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, stayed on from 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, never going pace to reach leaders
held up towards rear, no impression from 4 out
in touch to 10th, towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 12th
tracked leaders, led 6th, not fluent and headed 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on again flat
not fluent and never going well in rear, tailed off before 4 out
led to 6th, prominent until lost place 10th, soon tailed off
behind, stayed on from 3 out but never going pace to trouble leaders
prominent, went 2nd 14th, still close up 3 out, weakened after next
raced in mid-division, ridden and struggling 10th, losing touch when pulled up before 14th
raced wide, always prominent, tracked leaders going well from 4 out, went 2nd and hit 2 out, led before last, ran on well, driven out
always towards rear
prominent, lost place 10th, soon tailed off
Colourful Life is the pick over teammate Heroes Collange, with Kelami and Tikram not to be ruled out. Tikram has in fact been well-supported ante-post, and having already won the Mildmay Of Flete here 12 months ago, will have been prepared well in a bid to add to his success 12 months ago. He has failed to add to that score but his fourth in the Racing Post Chase will have put him spot on and Gary Moore's charge can be backed for a place at least. In what is a real puzzle though, Colourful Life gets the nod. The former Mary Reveley inmate has settled in well since joining Paul Nicholls and jumped his way into the picture with a seven-length beating of Tikram in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster, and as that was only his 11th run over fences, he can only get better. He was second over hurdles here for his previous stable and looks primed to run a big race according to his trainer. Kelami finished fourth in this event last year and is another to consider, but he needs softer ground to be seen at his best and is perhaps best kept in mind for Aintree. A bigger threat then may prove to be Heroes Collonge who is very lightly raced indeed. Successful over fences in France a few years ago, he went missing for three years, but there was a lot to like about his victory at Wincanton in February, and although he was allowed to dominate that small field, Paul Nicholls' charge will improve and can book his National ticket as well with a good run here. For the winner though we prefer his stablemate Colourful Life.
Keen Leader (IRE) 5-4fav Tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, hit next, soon ridden, headed last, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Horus at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Nov.
Irish Hussar (IRE) 16-1 Prominent, hit 7th and lost place, headway next, weakened quickly 14th, behind when pulled up at the 15th in race won by Best Mate at Cheltenham 3m 2f Gold Cup (A) gd, 10 ran.
Marlborough (IRE) 10-1 Held up in rear, ridden after 9th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Fork Lightning at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd, 11 ran.
Chives (IRE) 10-1 Chased leaders, lost place approaching 7th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Forest Gunner at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Ballybough Rasher (IRE) 5-2fav Held up in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on next, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Omni Cosmo Touch at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd.
Joly Bey (FR) 4-1 Raced freely, made most from 3rd, in command 2 out, clear when not fluent last, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Feb beating Iris Bleu by 6l, 9 ran.
Hussard Collonges (FR) 25-1 With leaders, ridden and weakened from 5 out, 5th of 10, 36l behind Run For Paddy at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd.
Heros Collonges (FR) 6-1 Prominent, chased leader 3rd, led after 11th, quickened approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on flat, won at Wincanton 3m 1f lst chs (A) gs in Feb beating Bathwick Annie by 4l, 4 ran.
Tikram 14-1 Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, stayed on but not reach leaders, 4th of 16, 10l behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Iris Bleu (FR) 10-1 Held up in touch, steady headway 14th, tracked winner 17th, going well before 3 out, no impression but kept on run-in, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Joly Bey at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Feb.
Colourful Life (IRE) 9-1 Held up, headway 4th, challenged going well from 4 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear before last, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (A) gd in Jan beating Tikram by 7l, 12 ran.
Jakari (FR) 20-1 Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, weakened before 4 out, 15th of 16, well behind Buckby Lane at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Jan.
Frenchman's Creek 4-1 Held up, headway after 17th, ridden 4 out, 5th and beaten when blundered badly 3 out, 4th of 11, 44l behind Lord Of Illusion at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Jan.
Whereareyounow (IRE) 12-1 Led until 5th, pushed along after next, behind from 8th, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs.
Spring Grove (IRE) 25-1 Held up, ridden and struggling after 11th, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 7, 23l behind It Takes Time at Lingfield 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Feb.
Kock de La Vesvre (FR) 7-2 Held up in touch, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 10, 36l behind Run For Paddy at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd.
Native Emperor 9-2 Mid-division, hit 5th, behind when ridden 12th, headway 15th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 10, 28l behind One Knight at Chepstow 3m 2f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Dec.
Kelami (FR) 9-1 Held up in touch, hit 17th, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Forest Gunner at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Swansea Bay 25-1 Mid-division, headway approaching 13th, disputed 2nd until approaching 3 out, weakened and not fluent 2 out, 7th of 12, 29l behind Therealbandit at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (B) gd in Dec.
Blazing Batman 50-1 Chased winner to 5th, weakened 8th, no chance when blundered 2 out, 4th of 6, 27l behind Red Georgie at Kempton 3m nov hdl (D) gs.
