made all, not fluent 9th, clear from next, kept on strongly, unchallenged
held up in last pair, dropped to last at 6th, reminders and outpaced after next, never on terms after, struggling when jumped right and hit 9th
chased winner, ridden and held when jumped right and hit 2 out, rider dropped rein briefly after, lost modest 2nd last, driven and kept on same pace run-in
held up in last, closer in 4th at 6th, 3rd after next, went 2nd at the last, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
raced wide, chased leading pair until after 7th, pushed along in 4th and outpaced after 4 out
Bertenbar won this off a slightly lower mark last year and should go well again. But MR BACHSTER arrives in better form having won over these fences in January and Kerry Lee’s charge gets the vote to go in again. Bahumbug was pulled up behind the selection and has not figured in a couple of subsequent starts while Edgar has also struggled since scoring at Towcester last month. Dalkadam won over hurdles in December, his only success so far in 13 starts with six of those coming over fences.
Bertenbar 12-1 (11-9) Mistakes and tended to jump left, tracked leader, led 7th, went left and hit 12th, mistake and headed 4 out, chased leaders, led again well before 2 out until approaching 2 out, chased winner until 2 out, chased leaders, weakened badly run-in, 7th of 13, 25l behind Song Saa (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Edgar (GER) 7-1 (11-4) With leaders, led before 3rd, headed 5 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, last of 4, dist behind Starkie (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Mr Bachster (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led until after 1st, prominent, led 8th, clear 3 out, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Jan beating Tikkapick (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Dalkadam (FR) 2-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened next, modest 3rd, 3rd of 5, 15 1/2l behind Tara Mac (11-1) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Bahumbug 14-1 (10-0) Reluctant to line up, headway on outside chasing leaders after 1st, jumped right 2nd, weakened 4 out, 7th of 9, dist behind What's Up Rory (11-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) sft in Mar.
