tracked leader, hard driven to challenge after 3 out, soon under pressure, weakened before last
made all, mistake 5 out, ridden after 3 out, drew clear after next, easily
tracked leader, slow 13th, soon lost place, detatched before 6 out, moderate 4th
tracked leader, not fluent throughout, shaken up 5 out, weakened 3 out, moderate 3rd
Nonrunner
The frustrating Voramar Two unseated Tom O'Brien at the second fence when Aldertune got off the mark at Chepstow eight days ago. Paul Nicholls' gelding made surprisingly hard work of beating the mare Saphire Night, however, and is probably worth taking on here under a penalty. FIN VIN DE LEU also carries a penalty after scoring at Taunton but is clearly improving with experience and promises to be suited by the longer trip here. Misstree Dancer finished ahead of the selection over hurdles at Plumpton last April but had an engagement at Uttoxeter on Saturday and has had a few hard races this season.
Aldertune (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Close up, took narrow lead 3 out, in command flat, idled badly final 100 yards, pressed near finish, pulled out enough last strides, won at Chepstow 3m beg chase (4) gd beating Saphire Night (10-4) by hd, 5 ran.
Fin Vin de Leu (GER) 7-1 (10-12) Tendency to jump left, with leader until led after 3rd, clear 3 out, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 7f beg chase (4) gs beating Patsy Finnegan (11-0) by 11l, 8 ran.
Casual Garcia 16-1 (11-9) Raced wide towards rear, ridden and struggling from 4th, tailed off, 9th of 14, 41l behind Body Gold (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Voramar Two 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Aldertune (11-0) at Chepstow 3m beg chase (4) gd, 5 ran.
Misstree Dancer 4-1 (11-9) Led, headed 5 out, chased winner and pecked 4 out, in 4th and held when looking one pace when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Douglas Julian (10-2) at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs (2) hvy in Feb, 5 ran.
