made all, clear from 2 out, driven out
close up until ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, reminders before 12th, chased winner from 3 out, ridden before next, kept on and no impression
in rear, pushed along before 12th, soon weakened, pulled up
KEPPOLS HILL can hardly be a confident selection having fallen in two of his last three starts and he all but came down on his chasing debut. He remains a young stayer with great potential and providing he gets his act together can take this on the way to the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. Godsmejudge is also in the same race and produced an outstanding performance to finish runner-up to Rigadin De Beauchene is a Grade 3 handicap over 3m5f here last month. He should be the one to benefit if the selection blots his copybook again though Grouse Lodge, who has only been beaten once under Rules, won't go down without a fight though he finished alone on his chasing bow at Towcester. Winning point-to-pointer Humphrey Bee will need a series of mishaps to occur to have any sort of chance.
Godsmejudge (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led, jumped right 5th, headed 14th, led again before 2 out, headed close home, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Rigadin De Beauchene (10-3) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Grouse Lodge (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Jumped slightly left at times, made all, left well clear 12th, finished alone, won at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.
Keppols Hill (IRE) 15-8fav (10-5) Fell 1st, in a race won by On Trend (9-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy, 7 ran.
Humphrey Bee (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) With leader, led after 8th, headed 9th, weakened from 13th, went remote 3rd from 5 out, 3rd of 6, 28l behind Ruben Cotter (11-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f nov chs (4) gd.
