jumped right, always behind, pulled up after 4th
held up, ridden after 4th, kept on under pressure from 3 out, not pace to trouble leaders
tracked leaders, going well approaching 4 out, soon ridden and weakened quickly from next
behind and no chance from 4th, tailed off
behind when fell 1st
held up in touch, effort and ridden to go 2nd 3 out, kept on well for 2nd but no impression on winner
raced wide, prominent, lost place quickly and behind from 3rd, tailed off
intouch, weakened rapidly approaching 4 out, pulled up approachig 2 out
held up, headway after 4th, kept on same pace from 3 out
tracked clear leader, closed after 4th, led 3 out, soon clear, eased flat
led and 15th lengths clear after 1st, came back to field after 4th, headed 3 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
Once again a very tricky event. Overall, Bernardon has been disappointing so far although he did not run badly in the Tote Gold Trophy and it would be no surprise to see him go well here. Castleshane ran a blinder to be just touched off by Santenay in a Grade 2 event at Wincanton but takes a drop in class now and is entitled to go well. Haditovski goes well here but is running from a mark six pounds higher than for his last win. The Lightly-raced Miss Cool's third to Non So at Kempton last time reads well and she has claims in an open race. She is closely weighted with Sonevafushi on their runs in that Kempton race. Keltic Bard has been raised seven pounds for an impressive Cheltenham win, which does not seem excessive. He was also impressive when winning a novice event over course and distance before that. Because he still seems pretty well handicapped, he gets the vote from us. Green Ideal's best effort was a second to impressive novice Our Vic at Wincanton. Reviewer, now 8lbs better off, was 17 lengths behind him in third that day. Bound was well behind Miss Cool and Sonevafushi at Kempton last time and is opposable at the weights. Edmo Heights is on a four-timer but has been raised a further 5lbs for the last of these which is going to make life tougher. Gimmick represents the Jonjo O'Neill stable but will need to raise his game to win this. Chief Cashier won twice in January and is six pounds higher than for the last of those wins but Tom Best, who gets on well with him, takes 7lbs off his back. Hot Shots certainly comes into the reckoning courtesy of his fifth to Non So at Kempton on 27 December (Chief Cashier is well held on the basis of that run), while River City has a bit to find overall on the back of two novice hurdle wins. Detonateur is well regarded and ran in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, but needs to step up on this season's efforts. Do l'Enfant D'Eau won well at Hereford on 23 February but more is required here, while Open Ground certainly can't be ruled out on the best of his form. As indicated, it's tricky, but we'll stick with Keltic Bard.
