led, headed 4 out, driven before next, upsides 2 out, regained narrow lead between last 2, ridden flat, held on well
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden after next, headed between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair from last
tracked leading pair, reached for 9th, switched outside 11th, not fluent 4 out, took narrow 2nd next, upsides 2 out, every chance last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, held towards finish
held up 4th and last in touch, outpaced 4 out, no chance with front trio from next
JOSSES HILL has to win this if he's to take his chance at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson's much-touted novice made hard work of overhauling Solar Impulse at Doncaster but the extra half-mile and softer going here will help, though he won't be much of a price and still needs to brush up his jumping. Third Intention appears thoroughly exposed and has to give the others 9lb. He fell at Haydock on his latest start but Ceasar Milan arrives off the back of a win at Exeter and looks to be heading in the right direction. Thomas Crapper could be a better bet for forecast-backers, however, as he's come up against some very smart novices in his four runs to date over fences and hasn't been disgraced in any of them.
Third Intention (IRE) 7-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, fell 5th, in a race won by Mwaleshi (11-7) at Haydock 2m 5f grd chs (5yo+) (2) hvy in Jan, 6 ran.
Ceasar Milan (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Made all, ridden clear after 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Exeter 2m 3f beg chase (4) sft in Jan beating Whisper (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Josses Hill (IRE) 4-11fav (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, led last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m nov chs (4) gd in Jan beating Solar Impulse (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Thomas Crapper 13-2 (10-10) Held up last, went 4th at 10th, 3rd 4 out, ridden one pace and no impression before 2 out, left poor 2nd and slightly hampered last, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Irish Saint (11-3) at Ascot 2m 5f grad ch (2) gs in Dec.
