in touch and hit 1st, bumped 2nd, headway 5th, joined leaders, driven along briefly 14th, led and soon clear 3 out, ridden out
held up, mistake 8th and 10th, weakened 13th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 6th, ridden 14th, mistake and weakened 4 out
led, weakening when headed 3 out
held up in touch, headway and pecked 3rd, weakened 12th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, lost touch 10th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, lost touch 11th
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 12th, weakened after 4 out
Amicelli gets a narrow vote ahead of Kitski, with Monteforte also expected to be in the shake up. Amicelli was a decent enough performer over hurdles and made a very pleasing chase debut when a close up fourth behind Idle Talk at Exeter. He will have learnt a lot from that experience and he looks the best option this afternoon. Kitski had some reasonable types behind when runner up to Pass Me By at Carlisle last time and will be suited by today's better ground conditions. Monteforte looked a star of the future when easily landing a bumper back in 2004. He has had his training problems since but is from a very shrewd yard and if attracting support in the ring, take note. Mobasher looks the only other one with any sort of claim, which brings us back to Amicelli as our idea of the winner.
Amicelli (GER) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, close 4th and ridden when mistake 3 out, kept on run-in, 4th of 6, 5l behind Idle Talk (11-10) at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Kitski (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 8th, chased winner after 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Pass Me By (11-6) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) sft in Feb.
Mobasher (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Jumped slowly, held up, ridden and weakened after 14th, 4th of 8, 34l behind Eskimo Pie (11-4) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Monteforte 11-2jt-fav (11-11) Prominent until weakened quickly pulled up 5 out in race won by Drumbeater (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Stars'n'stripes (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up, weakened 8th pulled up 5 out in race won by Lustral Du Seuil (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (D) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Drive On Driver (IRE) 100-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Ardaghey (11-4) at Towcester 3m beg chs (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Ellie Moss 100-1 (10-2) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Launde (11-2) at Leicester 2m mdn chs (4) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Horcott Bay 11-1 (10-11) With leader, led 7th, ridden, headed after 10th, weakened approaching 14th pulled up 4 out in race won by Chabrimal Minster (11-4) at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (4) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
