prominent, fell 8th
prominent, went 2nd 9th until after 11th, weakened after 4 out, took remote 3rd near finish
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, struggling 11th, tailed off
held up in rear, struggling 11th, well behind when went left and jumped slowly 2 out, pulled up before last
not fluent, behind 7th, lost touch approaching 7th, pulled up before 10th
soon steadied into mid-division, headway from 11th, went 3rd when mistake 4 out, weakened next
led, not fluent 9th, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression flat
held up in touch, went 2nd after 11th, challenged 3 out, led next, stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, ridden before 10th, well behind after next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until 9th, ridden after 11th, went modest 3rd but no chance when blundered 3 out, lost 3rd near finish
Fistral Beach will go close with a clear round but even that may not be enough to prevent SALUT FLO from winning again and the five-year-old gets our vote in this competitive race; Lease Lend and Will Be Done are two others to consider. David Pipe continues to fire in winners and he might've had another at Cheltenham had Salut Flo made the cut for the Grand Annual Chase. Connections will have been disappointed he missed out on a run as, despite a 14lb hike in the weights, their improving chaser looks to remain nicely treated with the best yet to come. He showed that he can act with cut when winning over in his native France and Hadden Frost had real trouble pulling him up after the line following a comfortable win at Doncaster on his sole try here; the second has scored since and David Pipe's gelding looks set to take the world of beating. Fistral Beach has always had talent but took an age to get off the mark, consenting to get beaten into second one way or another whatever the task. However, he managed to put it all together when winning under similar conditions at Kempton and can confirm form with the second horse Heathcote if jumping round. That has to be the concern as he unseated Ruby Walsh early on when well backed last time but in fairness that was his sole non-completion and he's worth another chance to make the frame. Lease Lend has been mopping up in the north and beat a talented sort last time. Tim Easterby's gelding has proved to be remarkably consistent and should continue to pay his way but this looks a big ask and he's taken on, as is Will Be Done who is another representing a strong northern yard. This one jumps for fun and should run well but giving almost a stone to our selection will surely prove too much to ask. Montgermont can be very good on his day and showed that when scoring last time, his first victory since 2006. On his old form the horse remains fairly enough treated but this would still be a career best as he's never actually won off a mark this high and for that reason he's taken on. Mister McGoldrick ran another blinder at Cheltenham last time and can never be written off - he's probably a fair bet for each-way backers at the likely odds - whilst in contrast Saphir Des Bois disappointed at Cheltenham but would have claims if back to his best in this slightly weaker race. This is a cracking handicap chase with plenty of consistent sorts, but the young and improving Salut Flo may have their measure off this rating and gets a strong vote.
Will Be Done (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Hit 1st, tracked leader, led before 3rd, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed flat, kept on and every chance until no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Sa Suffit (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f chs (2) sft in Mar.
Mister McGoldrick 33-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, challenged 9th, led 12th, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 24, 6l behind Great Endeavour (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Lease Lend 9-2fav (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, driven to lead flat, stayed on, won at Haydock 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar beating Leamington Lad (11-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Montgermont (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, pecked slightly 6th, headway next, went 2nd bypassing omitted 3 out, left in lead 2 out, stayed on gamely, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb beating Oracle des Mottes (11-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Saphir Des Bois (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Not always fluent in rear, mistake 4 out, never in contention, 8th of 24, 34l behind BallaBriggs (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Fistral Beach (IRE) 10-3fav (10-0) Prominent, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Razor Royale (10-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Salut Flo (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Made virtually all, clear from after 3 out, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Soulard (11-8) by 12l, 10 ran.
Prince De Beauchene (FR) 7-2fav (10-1) Handy, went 2nd 6th, belted 12th, every chance 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 30l behind Our Vic (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Heathcote 15-8fav (10-0) Held up in touch, headway 8th, blundered and lost place 10th, blundered next, soon behind, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Saphir Des Bois (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (2) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 6-4fav (10-13) Tracked winner throughout, mistake 3 out, switched right to challenge flat, soon ridden and every chance, held near finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Kilmackilloge (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
