patiently ridden and held up last, not fluent 9th, closed steadily from 14th, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, in command before last, all out, finished tired
led narrowly 2nd, headed 4 out, chased leader to next, soon outpaced, kept on run-in but no chance
led to 2nd, with leader after, niggled along from 7th, hard ridden after 14th, outpaced before 3 out, kept on run-in
tracked leading pair, led 4 out, headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, finished tired
raced in close 4th, ridden and looked reluctant before 12th, pulled up after 13th
Whitford Don saw out this trip really well when landing a beginners' chase at Warwick in December under testing ground and is taken to follow up at the main expense of Calvic and Sonnant. The last mentioned was only three-quarters of a length behind the selection at Warwick and has run up to a similar level of form when a three-length second to Sixo at Chepstow subsequently. Charlie Mann's gelding obviously warrants respect but needs to improve to beat Whitford Don. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding showed progressive form over hurdles last term and has wasted little time in showing his worth over the larger obstacles and, with more improvement to come, he looks worth a bet. Tom George's Calvic won well at Wincanton last time over 2m5f and has claims but has yet to prove his effectiveness over this distance. Jamerosier does not look good enough and a bigger threat is likely to come from Eva So Charming, although Henrietta Knight's gelding tends to find at least one too good and may well do so again with Whitford Don fancied to come out on top.
Calvic (IRE) 3-1 Held up in mid-division, headway 13th, ridden 3 out, challenged 2 out, driven out from last, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (D) sft in Jan beating Shareef by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Eva So Charming 10-1 Reminders 1st, led 2nd, headed after 4th, ridden 11th, weakened 6 out, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Control Man at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (C) gs in Jan.
Jamerosier (FR) 5-1 Behind from 4th, 8th of 13, well behind Pewter Light at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft.
Sonnant (FR) 5-1 In touch, chased leaders 7th to 17th, outpaced approaching 4 out, headway 3 out, soon one pace, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Sixo at Chepstow 3m 2f beg chs (E) hvy in Jan.
Whitford Don (IRE) 8-11fav Held up, headway approaching 14th, led 2 out, edged right flat, driven out, won at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (D) sft in Dec beating Sonnant by 3/4l, 9 ran.
