led to 4th, tracked leader, lost place 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened before 2 out
held up behind, headway when mistake 4 out, chased leading pair next, soon ridden, went 2nd last, kept on, no impression with winner
with leader, led 4th, driven and headed before 2 out, ridden between last 2, one pace and lost 2nd last, no impression flat
held up towards rear, blundered 12th, outpaced when jumped right 3 out, plugged on same pace from next, no chance with leaders
tracked leaders in 4th, headway to go 2nd 5 out, led before 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat
held up in rear when lost action and pulled up after 3rd, dismounted
tracked leading pair, outpaced 4 out, no impression when slightly hampered next, soon weakened
held up towards rear, reminder after 10th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
TIME FOR RUPERT was a high-class staying hurdler but could prove even better over fences judged on his cosy win over 2m5f here last month. This longer trip will bring his proven stamina even more into play and he is the obvious choice. Chicago Grey would almost certainly have finished ahead of Balthazar King here last month had he not come to grief at the second-last and he could go close with a clear round as he'd been much more fluent than Picture This when beating that rival here in October. Quinz is upped in class after winning an Ascot handicap last month, while Robo's two wins at Fakenham don't match the level of form of some of his rivals here.
Balthazar King (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leader, led 8th, narrowly headed after 11th, chased leader, led again 4 out, headed before 2 out, 3rd when left close 2nd 2 out, ridden and no extra from last, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Wayward Prince (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Chicago Grey (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, led before 2 out, narrow lead when fell 2 out, in a race won by Wayward Prince (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Quinz (FR) 15-8fav (11-8) Led 3rd, pressed from 5 out, asserted approaching 2 out, ridden clear, comfortable, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Far More Serious (11-10) by 14l, 6 ran.
Robo (FR) 13-8fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led 2 out, ridden and soon clear, ran on, comfortable, won at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating Plunkett (11-2) by 33l, 5 ran.
Time For Rupert (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led approaching and narrow lead when left 1 length in front 2 out, kept on strongly from last, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Nov beating Hell's Bay (11-7) by 8l, 10 ran.
Bentota (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) In rear, outpaced 8th, rallied to go 3rd near finish, 3rd of 5, 37l behind Robo (11-9) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Cannington Brook (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Held up in touch, hit 3rd, steady headway approaching 3 out, no real impression when left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Wayward Prince (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Flight Leader (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Jumped right, led until approaching 14th, led before 16th, ridden and headed before 2 out where not fluent, stayed on flat, no impression, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Dance Island (10-12) at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Picture This (IRE) 6-5fav (11-0) Chased leaders until blundered and lost place 7th, driven before 2 out, stayed on well flat to snatch 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Chicago Grey (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gd in Oct.
