behind, jumped slowly 3rd and soon tailed off, mistake 9th (water), pulled up before 11th
led, headed 4th, clear with leader 6th until 4 out, kept on same pace
held up, dropped to rear after 8th, outpaced 5 out, jumped left 2 out and last, ridden and ran on flat to snatch 3rd close home
held up, headway 13th, chased leader 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out
keen and tracked leader until led 4th, clear with one other 6th, blundered 3 out and rider lost iron briefly, headed next, every chance when blundered last, rallied towards finish
chased leaders, hit 2nd, blundered 13th, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace
always in rear, blundered 2 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, hit 12th, soon ridden, weakened 5 out
Plenty in with a chance here as Gidam Gidam finished second at Huntingdon last month and has claims on that form, while Rathcor went close at Doncaster on his latest start and makes more appeal than Kiama. Pistolet Noir is a leading contender on his best form over hurdles and has a recent second in a point-to-point under his belt but RUMBURY GREY gets the vote. He just got the better of the re-opposing Galway Jack over these fences on his recent debut under Rules and is open to plenty of improvement.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 16-1 (11-13) Held up, not fluent 1st or 7th, headway 10th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on from before 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind The Polomoche (11-13) at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) gs in Feb.
Marblehead (IRE) 7-2 (12-5) Hdwy 12; led app 17; stayed on wl, won at Dunthrop 4m ptp gd in Jan beating King Of The Road (12-5) by 1l, 11 ran.
Special Portrait (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) In touch, chased winner from 12th, ridden after last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Cloudy Lane (12-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Rumbury Grey 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, led flat, held on, won at Leicester 2m 4f nov hunt chs (6yo+) (6) gd in Feb beating Galway Jack (11-9) by nk, 10 ran.
Galway Jack (IRE) 4-5fav (11-9) Led until 2 out, every chance flat, stayed on, 2nd of 10, nk behind Rumbury Grey (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hunt chs (6yo+) (6) gd in Feb.
Pistolet Noir (FR) 4-1 (12-0) Made most til hdd last; no ex flat, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Coombe Hill (12-3) at Ston Easton 3m ptp gs in Feb.
Rathcor 7-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway 11th, chased leader 5 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Winterwood (11-11) at Doncaster 3m 2f hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Kiama 4-1 (11-11) In touch on inner, headway to chase leaders 7th, not fluent 12th, went 3rd after 4 out, well held when mistake and stumbled 2 out, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Divine Intavention (12-1) at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (5) gs in Feb.
