held up, hit 2nd, ridden 11th, in touch next, mistake and weakened 4 out
took keen hold, soon prominent, led 3rd, headed before 9th, stayed handy, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 12th, led 4 out, clear 2 out, easily
led 2nd until 3rd, led before 9th, not fluent and headed 12th, hit 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before next
in rear, jumped slowly 1st, not fluent after, behind before 9th, pulled up after 12th
chased leaders, challenged 10th, led 12th, headed 4 out, no extra from 2 out
led until 2nd, in touch, ridden after 8th, losing place when bad mistake 9th, pulled up before 11th
held up, fell 9th
Cootehill and Cadoudalas fought out a tight finish over the course and distance in April with the former just prevailing. Neither have been in the best of form lately though the Twiston-Davies representative generally goes well here. Oscar Hill's recent good form has been in low grade hurdles and he looks high enough in the weights and though Grandioso has won over hurdles and fences since April he doesn't appear that well treated. VALMARI, on the other hand, may have been let in lightly though her jumping still leaves something to be desired. She's won two of her five starts over fences and fallen in another two, both against high-class opposition. She got her act together over the course and distance last time, comfortably beating the 117-rated Tara Rose, so a mark of 124 looks perfectly reasonable and she looks the one to be on.
Cootehill (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, one pace from 2 out, went 3rd run-in, no impression, 3rd of 8, 21l behind Easter Meteor (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Oscar Hill (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Took keen hold, went 2nd after 1st, led going well 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, well held before last, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Not Til Monday (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f cnd/am sll hdl (5) hvy in Dec.
Grandioso (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, challenged 5 out, every chance 3 out to next, soon ridden, beaten approaching last, 2nd of 3, 10l behind The Druids Nephew (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Comehomequietly (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) In touch on outside, led 3rd mistake 5th, mistake and headed next, soon lost place, weakened 5 out, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind Ulck Du Lin (10-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Siberian Tiger (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, ridden 7th, effort approaching 3 out, never on terms, well held 2 out, 9th of 14, 29l behind Kaylif Aramis (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Cadoudalas (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Led until after 2nd, prominent, hit 9th, soon ridden, lost place 5 out, soon eased and well behind, 7th of 9, well behind Carrickboy (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Valmari (IRE) 2-1fav (10-11) Chased leader and keen, blundered and rider lost iron briefly 6th, hit 10th, led 12th, pressed fom next, ridden and stumbled 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Ludlow 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) sft in Jan beating Tara Rose (10-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Moulin de La Croix 33-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, ridden and faded inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 6l behind City Press (11-0) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
