held up towards rear, last before 7th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, 2nd when not fluent 3rd, not fluent 2 out, beaten last, one pace
tracked winner until before 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, beaten last, one pace
led, driven after 2 out, headed flat, rallied to lead final 50 yards, stayed on
held up in 4th, ridden and weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway on outside from 3 out, went 2nd and jumped left last, led flat, headed final 50 yards, stayed on
held up in rear, headway 7th, disputing 2nd 2 out, 3rd when switched right and unable to quicken flat, stayed on same pace
On Tour has been racing over fences and scored at Aintree in November but hasn't won over timber since completing a hat-trick in 2014. Jeannot De Nonant won twice in France but Gordon Elliott couldn't get a race out of him and he's changed stables. CAVE TOP (NAP) completed a double of this track and trip on heavy ground before finding Grade 2 company too much for him at Warwick though he was by no means disgraced and can get back to winning ways. Sleepy Haven has managed to win four times over timber but never at this level so the main threat looks to be Yalltari. An easy winner when making all at Hereford, he may have been a bit fortunate at Exeter on New Year's Day when a close rival fell at the second last but he's on the upgrade and should give a good account.
On Tour (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up last, remote 5th when stumbled 14th, fell next, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Jeannot De Nonant (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 8th, towards rear 2 out and no impression approaching straight, ridden and kept on one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 13, 18l behind Tesseract (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f Yielding in Aug.
Cave Top (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd or 5th, every chance on bend after 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra, 5th of 6, 17 1/4l behind Mr Whipped (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Yalltari 13-8fav (10-13) Made most and set steady pace, ridden and narrowly headed when left clear 2 out (normal 3 out), finished tired, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Billy Hicks (10-7) by 19l, 5 ran.
Blairs Cove 14-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, lost place after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 19 3/4l behind Canelie (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Applesandpierres (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, ridden and struggling after 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Cougar Kid (10-3) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Keen, held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened run-in, 6th of 12, 9 1/2l behind Mr Antolini (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
