tracked leader, lost briefly before last, left in lead last, kept on well
led, clear when stumbled and fell after last
tracked leaders in 4th went 2nd briefly before last, left 2nd after last, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 2 out, left 3rd from last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish
in rear, kept on from 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, soon weakened
Springtown Lake won a maiden hurdle at Worcester last month and there should be more to come from him now handicapping. But top weight BUCKHORN TIMOTHY made a recent winning return at Fontwell and with a conditional’s allowance negating a rise in the weights, Colin Tizzard’s charge gets the nod to go in again. Volpone Jelois also has a shout on his fourth at Newbury a fortnight ago and is preferred to the returning Morianour while Winning Spark finished runner-up in last year’s renewal though is 5lb higher today.
Buckhorn Timothy 7-1 (11-11) Tracked leading trio, effort 2 out, led next, ridden out, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Young Dillon (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Springtown Lake (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Chased leaders, led 4 out, driven 2 out, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Oct beating My Charity (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Fou Et Sage (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Mid-division, driven after 3 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never on terms, 8th of 14, 11 1/2l behind Elgin (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Dubawi Island (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Not too keen to jump off, soon in rear, blundered 4th, tailed off and pulled up 7th, at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Winning Spark (USA) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced, plugged on and never dangerous, 6th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Mr Fickle (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gf in Mar.
Druid's Folly (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Not jump well in rear, blundered badly 10th, no headway and blundered again 2 out, soon pulled up, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in May.
Volpone Jelois (FR) 11-4 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place 5 out, rallied 2 out, no extra after last, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Poppy Kay (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Morianour (FR) 4-9fav (10-12) Tracked winner, not fluent 4 out, effort and every chance when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, well held when not fluent last, 2nd of 3, 6l behind Move To The Groove (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gs in Aug.
