chased leaders until lost place approaching 6th, behind next, jumped slowly 10th, struggling when fell 13th
raced wide, tracked leaders 3rd, mistake and lost place 11th, weakened 14th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before last
chased leader until 5th, chased leaders, 2nd again 9th, mistake 11th, ridden and held when blundered last, kept on same pace run-in
held up in last pair, went badly left and blundered 5th, headway tracking leaders 11th, led approaching 14th, clear before last, stayed on well
chased leading pair, 2nd 5th until 9th, chased leaders, mistake 11th, driven in 4th before 2 out, kept on same pace run-in
held up in last trio, headway tracking leaders 6th, pushed along in 5th before 4 out, rallied into 3rd at the last, kept on run-in, nearly snatched 2nd but no chance with winner
held up in rear, headway 10th, blundered badly and lost place 11th, rallied into 3rd and pushed along before 4 out, lost 3rd last, driven and one pace run-in
led, reminders after 13th, headed approaching 14th, weakened before 4 out
Desert Joe followed up a second here by winning at Leicester and is one for the short-list. Medieval Chapel had no problems landing the odds at Fakenham last time and is another progressive novice - he appears to have the beating of Horatio Hornblower on collateral form. Letbeso won at Ffos Las and Chepstow last month but is understandably creeping up the weights and may just find a few of these too strong. Neither Wuff nor Strollawaynow are out of this but Tony Star can take a pull and he might not get home over 3m on this galloping course. The latter's trainer, Philip Hobbs' also runs THE SKYFARMER and there's a good chance he'll leave his previous form over fences behind now upped in distance. A winning pointer, he's well treated on his best form over hurdles.
Tony Star (FR) 9-2 (11-12) In touch in 4th, blundered badly and unseated rider 5th, in a race won by Global Power (11-3) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb, 9 ran.
Medieval Chapel (FR) 2-5fav (10-11) Tracked leader until led 12th, made rest, clear approaching last, comfortable, won at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) gs in Feb beating Like Minded (11-0) by 23l, 4 ran.
Wuff (IRE) 15-8fav (10-6) Chased winner, joined winner 9th, every chance 3 out, lost 2nd place run-in, kept on, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Oscar Fortune (10-6) at Haydock 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
The Skyfarmer 10-1 (11-0) Midfield, pushed along 5 out, no impression, 5th of 9, 18l behind Stellar Notion (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) gs in Dec.
Horatio Hornblower (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, mistakes, well beaten 4 out, 9th of 12, 34l behind Generous Ransom (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Jan.
Desert Joe (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4th, not fluent 9th or 12th, led 4 out, headed next, led again soon after last, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov hcap ch (3) gs in Feb beating Azure Fly (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Letbeso (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, closed before 5 out, led 3 out, pressed flat, pulled out extra, stayed on gamely, won at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) sft in Feb beating Hada Men (11-5) by 1l, 6 ran.
Strollawaynow (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Last pair, headway chasing leaders after 2nd, mistake 5th, 3rd after 7th, driven into 2nd before 5 out, no impression 4 out, dropped to 3rd approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Financial Climate (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Feb.
