chased leading pair, dropped to 4th at 6th, ridden and looked struggling when slipped up on bend before 10th
raced freely, led, hit 5th, ridden and hit 4 out, blundered next, driven between last 2, 2 lengths ahead and staying on when fell last
soon well adrift in rear, tailed off 9th, left poor 4th before 10th and poor 3rd last, tailed off
chased leader, hit 5th, lost 2nd before 10th, soon no chance with leading duo, struggling 3 out, left poor 2nd last
mistake, stumbled and unseated rider 2nd
held up tracking leading trio, went 3rd 6th, went 2nd before 10th, hit 4 out, going well after 3 out, ridden 2 lengths down and not finding much when left clear last
Henri Prends Garde, Catspan and Zepnove are struggling for form at present and are best left for the time being, whilst Tavalu has the ability to win but is equally likely to throw in a shocker. BEAU COLONEL does have time on his side at the age of six and might just be good enough here if delivering his best against exposed rivals. Admittedly, he hasn't shown much since a decent effort at Towcester last November but a repeat of that run would suffice. He gets a tentative nod. C&D winner Curragh Dancer is consistent at this lowly level and whilst he's exactly where the handicapper wants him, he seems sure to be in the shake-up in such a moderate affair.
Henri Prends Garde (FR) 28-1 (11-13) Tracked leaders, ridden after 8th, soon outpaced, hampered next, weakening when not fluent 10th, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Island Life (11-11) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Catspan (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Led, clear 4th, went left and hit 8th, stumbled next, reduced lead before 10th, headed soon after, weakened and soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Oscar Charlie (10-0) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Curragh Dancer (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, reminders before 5th, outpaced after 7th, went 3rd after 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Try Catch Me (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Zepnove (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Led until 2nd, reminder after 6th, jumped left and lost place from next, soon behind, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Colditz (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gf in Oct, 8 ran.
Tavalu (USA) 14-1 (10-6) Raced alone in inside, held up last but in touch, weakened 13th, mistake next, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Paradise Expected (10-4) at Ffos Las 3m Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (5) sft in Mar.
Beau Colonel (FR) 4-1 (10-7) Keen in rear, blundered and fell 4th, in a race won by Brunette'sonly (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
