always behind and not fluent, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders and keen, ridden approaching 4 out, no impression from next
chased leaders, led 6th, headed and hit 3 out, no extra flat
chased leader, lost place approaching 10th, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, weakened from 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up, ran out 7th
chased leaders, weakened 5 out
held up towards rear, headway from 5 out, weakened from 3 out
led to 6th, hit 5 out, weakened after 3 out
held up in touch, headway 10th, led 3 out, driven out
Isan has given little sign of encouragement so far and along with Howard Johnson's other runner in this race, Mephisto, looks best watched in a contest taken to go to GREENBRIDGE. Alan King's gelding showed a decent level of form over hurdles last term, has made an encouraging start to his chasing career and he is taken to gain a deserved first success over fences. Henry Daly's Pop was going well when falling four out on his chasing debut at Ludlow in October and it is of interest that his handler has given him plenty of time since then to recover from that. Lease Lend is proving to be rather expensive to follow and looks booked for a place at best, while Ferdy Murphy's Master Builder will need to improve on hurdles form if he is to get involved at the finish. French Saulaie was useful over hurdles and has shown a decent level of form in three starts over fences this term for Philip Hobbs. He rates the biggest threat to the selection Greenbridge.
Forthright 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led 2nd to 3rd, led 4th to 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 9, 30l behind Hector's Choice (11-4) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
French Saulaie (FR) 7-4jt-fav (11-2) Held up, headway after 10th, went 3rd 12th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 10, 24l behind Psychomodo (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd in Nov.
Greenbridge (IRE) 15-8 (11-1) Tracked winner, joined winner 5th, not fluent next, ridden approaching 4 out, soon held, weakened after 2 out, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 4, 21l behind Oumeyade (11-9) at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Iron Hague (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, slow 9th, pushed along when blundered and unseated rider at the 10th in race won by Freeze The Flame (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft, 5 ran.
Isan (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Led to 2nd, led again 5th, headed 7th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Quality Control (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 11 ran.
Keen Warrior 20-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, blundered 5th, driven 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Spear Thistle (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Lease Lend 9-2 (11-1) In touch, reminders 5th, effort and every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 11, 13l behind Cast Iron Casey (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Master Builder (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, close 6th 3 out, no extra before next, 11th of 25, 28l behind Here Comes Sally (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl gd in Apr.
Mephisto (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, driven and weakened from 7th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Otage De Brion (FR) 9-4jt-fav (11-0) In rear and jumping not fluent, driven 8th, some progress 10th, plugged on, 4th of 8, 16l behind Heathcote (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Pop (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 10th, went 2nd after 13th, upside winner when fell 4 out in race won by Shining Gale (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
