led, ridden and pressed last, kept on and caught close home
held up towards rear, outpaced 5 out, ridden and headway after 2 out, kept on towards finish
in rear, fell 2nd
in touch in 4th, blundered 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before last, kept on same pace
tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, challenged when blundered last, kept on to lead post
in rear, weakened from 3 out
Croco Bay bolted up at Catterick at the end of December but has been raised 11lb for his troubles. Rockawango has finished tailed off at Haydock since beating two rivals at Carlisle but Firth Of Clyde arrives in form and on a hat-trick after victories at Wetherby and Market Rasen. TOUR D'ARGENT has only managed one place from six starts over fences but has been quite highly tried. He should be competitive off today's mark if Jason Maguire can get him settled so gets a tentative vote as Surprise Vendor appears to have gone off the boil and the returning Cayman Islands is making his debut over the larger obstacles.
Croco Bay (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Soon led, headed after 4th, left in lead 7th, drew clear before 2 out, very easily, won at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Phase Shift (11-1) by 10l, 6 ran.
Firth Of The Clyde 11-4 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway 4 out, switched right after 3 out, led soon after next, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Flaming Gorge (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Rockawango (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon no impression, weakened after 2 out, last of 5, 35l behind Mwaleshi (11-3) at Haydock 2m nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
Tour D'Argent (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd after 4th, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 21l behind De Boitron (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Cayman Islands 7-4 (11-3) Chased clear leader, led after 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 34l behind Discovery Bay (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Apr.
Suprise Vendor (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Led and soon clear, blundered and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Supreme Asset (11-7) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy, 5 ran.
Rhymers Ha' 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching last (normal 3 out), last of 11, 46l behind Ubaltique (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
