led, headed 3rd, remained in touch, ridden and lost place 10th, weakened 12th, pulled up 3 out
in touch, chased leader 8th until 12th, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 7th, clear with winner soon after 3 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on
close up, chased leader 12th, clear with leader 3 out, shaken up to lead last, stayed on
chased leader, lost place 9th, weakened before 3 out
Thisthatandtother has scared off the opposition and there isn't really any to speak of. Twenty Degrees is the obvious one for the forecast. The selection is in a completely different league to his five opponents and only disaster or alien intervention can prevent him from landing his second Hunter Chase with the fences unlikely to be an issue as he's such a good jumper and has only fallen twice, both times in top class races at Cheltenham. Twenty Degrees signed off for last term with a stylish win in a competitive Hunter Chase at Stratford last May and made a winning return to action between the flags last month. He should be able to land the second place prize money but will be flattered if he finishes within twenty lengths of Thisthatandtother.
Galway Breeze (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Lost plce 6; t.o & pulled up in race won by Unmistakably (11-4) at Horseheath 3m ptp gd, 11 ran.
Hatsnall 5-2 (12-5) Bhnd til pulled up in race won by Jumbul Sale (12-5) at Higham 3m ptp gf in Jan, 9 ran.
Howard Howard 10-1 (11-0) Drpd rr 8; rallied 13; wknd 15, 5th of 9, 29l behind Oracle des Mottes (11-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Thisthatandtother (IRE) 2-9fav (11-11) Held up, headway to lead approaching 6th, quickened clear on bit approaching 2 out, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hts chs (6) sft beating Back Nine (11-10) by 10l, 5 ran.
Twenty Degrees 11-8fav (11-0) Jnd ldrs 12; led 3 out; rdn out, won at Barbury Castle 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Happy Shopper (11-0) by 8l, 9 ran.
Saddlers Cloth (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chsd ldrs to 8; t.o & pulled up in race won by Cantarinho (12-5) at Higham 3m ptp gf in Jan, 9 ran.