tracked leaders, led before last, soon clear, ran on well
tracked leader, led 2nd, headed before last, no extra
led until 2nd, remained prominent, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, mistake 5 out, effort 3 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, pushed along after 4 out, soon lost place
Qalinas arrives on a hat-trick after victories over further at Taunton and Lingfield but has shot up the weights and looks worth opposing now. Bobowen is probably high enough in the handicap and will be back over fences shortly and Stow is 8lb higher than when scoring over track and trip in December, though easily won a seller over an inadequate 2m at Uttoxeter last month. THE BEAR TRAP was never travelling and pulled up when heavily backed for a class 2 handicap at Ascot last time but he has a good record over course and distance, winning in January and only going down by a head the following month. McCoy will be delivering him late again and he can get back to winning ways. Gambo races for the first time since August and prefers better ground while Den of Iniquity looks a light of former days.
Bobowen (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, lost place when not fluent 9th, hampered 11th, towards rear when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Rajdhani Express (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) sft, 20 ran.
Qalinas (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Took keen hold, chased leaders, hit 7th, went 2nd approaching 4th, led and going approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft beating Thedeboftheyear (10-11) by 12l, 7 ran.
Stow Evensfav (11-0) Pressed leader, led 2nd, clear last, eased close home, won at Uttoxeter 2m cond sll hdl (5) hvy in Feb beating Get It On (11-0) by 5l, 5 ran.
The Bear Trap (IRE) 10-3 (10-4) Always behind, struggling 4 out, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Kuilsriver (9-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Gambo (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Behind, steady headway 15th, went 2nd after 4 out, disputing well head 2nd when blundered badly and sprawled last, not recover, 4th of 9, 15l behind Barel Of Laughs (10-7) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs (2) sft in Aug.
Den of Iniquity 40-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, tracking leaders when bad mistake and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Arctic Wings (10-0) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs, 14 ran.
