led, hard driven approaching 2 out, led before last, kept on same pace
tracked leader, not fluent 5 out, driven to challenge after 3 out, led before last, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, lost touch 8th, soon beaten, moderate 3rd
chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened, moderate 4th
Arctic Ben would have leading claims if reproducing the form of his win at Newbury last March but has shown no signs of doing so of late. Marie Des Anges is another winner at Newbury and but is also struggling for form. Cloudingstar is penalised for his recent win at Ffos Las. That was only his second start over fences so there should be more to come, but KING'S GRACE is just preferred. He ran well off today's mark behind Kris Cross at Musselburgh last month having scored at Sedgefield before that and gets the vote dropping down a grade for this.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Led and soon clear, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, well behind Granville Island (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
King's Grace Evensfav (10-12) Tracked winner, not fluent 3rd or 9th, ridden and no impression after 14th, closed 4 out, beaten 2 out, 2nd of 3, 12l behind Kris Cross (10-12) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Cloudingstar (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Jumped well, tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd after 8th, 2nd 10th, challeged going well 4 out, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft beating Tuskar Rock (11-3) by 3l, 7 ran.
Marie Des Anges (FR) 8-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, held up off the pace in 5th, hit 3rd, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before last, in a race won by Midnight Belle (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
