led until 2nd, chased leader, reached for 5th, challenged 7th, soon led again, briefly headed approaching last, soon in front again, stayed on gamely
hit 1st, tracked leader, led 2nd, joined 7th, soon headed, led narrowly when hit last and pecked, soon headed, rallied, just held
jumped left at times, always last, jumped slowly 7th, not fluent next, pushed along and struggling when went left final 4, finished tired
Keep Rolling finally came good in a lower grade at Uttoxeter but is hardly unexposed whereas Shaman Du Berlais is having only a fourth run over fences and has improved since winning at Stratford last May. ADRIMEL beat a previous winner here in December and is also a winner at the track over hurdles. He loves the mud and will take all the beating again if the blinkers work a second time.
Adrimel (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, hit 3rd, led 4 out, came clear before 2 out, easily, won at Haydock 2m (3) sft in Dec beating Dreams Of Home (11-6) by 15l, 4 ran.
Shaman Du Berlais (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Led, not fluent 3rd, serious blunder 7th, ridden and headed 4 out, plugged on thereafter, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Oscars Leader (10-11) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Keep Rolling (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and led before 3 out, kept on at 2 out, went clear after final fence, won easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Star of Rory (11-3) by 14l, 7 ran.
