held up behind, pushed along 10th, headway on outside to challenge when edged left after 3 out, led next, soon ridden, edged left and held on under pressure flat
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, soon one pace
led to 4th, chased leader, lost place and behind 7th, soon struggling, lost touch and pulled up after 10th
held up in touch on outside, headway and effort when hampered after 3 out, switched right next, challenged and every chance when not fluent last, kept on flat, held near finish
tracked leader, led 4th, driven after 11th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, one pace approaching last
held up in touch on inside, close up and every chance when fell 3 out
Another dire affair in which KONIGSBOTE is the token selection against Keepholdin and Chico Time. The blinkers will be retried on the former Paul Nicholls inmate this afternoon and having not quite got home other further at Fontwell, we are hopeful that this slightly shorter trip will play to his strengths. Keepholdin is modest though relatively consistent. A winner of a mark of 69 at Hereford; he has been sent off as favourite on his last two outings though has been unable to quite secure that follow up success. Chico Time reverts to hurdling having not experienced too much in the way of success over the larger obstacles. Geography was set to race here on Sunday so it remains to be seen as to whether he turns up. Pomander has won at the course previously albeit over shorter. Konigsbote looks to have been primed to strike and we are happy to row in this afternoon.
Chico Time (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, headway after 15th, jumped slowly next, went 2nd 18th until 3 out, no extra last, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Quiet Bob (11-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Pomander (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Led 1st, soon in touch, chased leaders 3out, weakened after 2nd last, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Ethiopia (10-3) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Paktol Des Brosses (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 3rd, not fluent 8th, headed next, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 14, 44l behind My Skipper (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb.
Konigsbote (GER) 7-1 (11-12) In rear, pushed along after 5th, ridden 9th, outpaced next, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 28l behind Herald Angel (11-3) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Ramvaswani (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) In touch, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 5th of 17, 9l behind Merry Music (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Keepholdin (IRE) 5-2fav (10-5) Held up in rear, dived at 1st, headway after 6th, chased winner when mistake and rider lost iron briefly 2 out, lost 2nd and soon weakened,, 4th of 9, 39l behind Herald Angel (11-3) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Geography (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 31l behind Fleur De Vassy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gs in Mar.
