held up in touch, weakened tailed off when mistake 10th, pulled up after next
held up in last pair, good headway on outside chasing leaders approaching 10th, every chance when blundered badly 12th, not able to recover
held up in last pair, mistake 5th, never involved, tailed off when went badly right 10th, pulled up before 12th
raced keenly, tracked leader, led 5th, clear 7th until pecked 11th, headed before 4 out, lost 2nd 4 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out
in touch on inside, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, behind after next, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened after 11th, tailed off when went right 4 out,
led until 5th, chased leader until before 8th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 11th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 8th until after 11th, chased leaders, rallied into 2nd again 4 out, no impression next
held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders 9th, went 2nd after 11th, led before 4 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, very easily,
NonRunner
It’s fair to say that Vibrato Valtat hasn’t quite hit the heights once predicted in chases but he’s still a very useful performer and trainer Paul Nicholls’ record in this is second to none. The grey may be short of confidence, however, having not won for a while and stablemate More Buck's is looking a little exposed nowadays. Oldgrangewood may well have been unbeaten over fences had he not been brought down at Aintree in December. He’s still on an upward curve and readily beat Dresden at Wetherby last month so demands the utmost respect but all of Vic De Touzaine’s best form has been shown on heavy going so connections will be praying for the heavens to open. Thomas Crapper is an interesting runner as his only previous win over fences came over course and distance off a 6lb higher mark last April but HOLLYWOODIEN ran really well off a trip too short at Sandown last time and could represent more value. Tom Symonds’ novice won on the bridle over this trip at Wetherby over Christmas and is finally beginning to fulfil his potential.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 11th, went 2nd 13th until 3 out, 2nd again form next, no impression winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Templehills (10-5) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
O Maonlai (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway before 6 out, mistake 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up, at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Oldgrangewood 4-1 (11-3) Held up behind, steady headway on inside after 5 out, soon tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, soon clear, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Dresden (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Hollywoodien (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Held up in 5th, hit 9th, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, ridden and one pace when dropped to 4th between last two, went 3rd again towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Garde La Victoire (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Dresden (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up, headway after 7th, 2nd after 11th, challenged 4 out, ridden when switched right before last, led briefly flat, stayed on, held close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind No Buts (10-7) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Tornado In Milan (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, challenged 4th, led after 6th, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Masters Hill (11-6) by 15l, 9 ran.
More Buck's (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led until 6th, jinked left and jumped doll fence after 9th, continued and chasing leaders when fell 12th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Vic De Touzaine (FR) 5-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway before 5th, chased winner after 10th, closed flat, unable to challenge, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Dusky Lark (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Thomas Crapper 9-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway 13th, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 13, 21 1/2l behind Foxtail Hill (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Shadows Lengthen 13-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, outpaced next, kept on from last to take 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 18 1/2l behind Kalane (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
