jumped well, made all, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well when strongly challenged flat, just held on
jumped well, tracked winner, pushed along after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, rallied last, kept on and every chance flat, just held
held up behind when not fluent and unseated rider 1st
chased front pair throughout, struggling 11th, no chance after, tailed off 4 out
Local Show won at Newbury last month but faces stiffer opposition today. Padge scored at Ascot in October but looked beaten when slipping and unseating his rider at Cheltenham last time and ONENIGHTINVIENNA is preferred. The latter made a winning start over the larger obstacles at Exeter and went close again over the Cheltenham fences when second to Blaklon on his latest start. He gets the nod ahead of Closing Ceremony, who won the Grade 2 Rendlesham over hurdles at Haydock last year and can figure if proving as effective now chasing for the first time.
Local Show (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tended to jump right, tracked leaders, 2nd at 7th, led before 9th, went right 4 out and next, clear before went right again next, kept on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Wuff (11-2) by 13l, 10 ran.
Onenightinvienna (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Tracked leader, every chance 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Blaklion (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Padge (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd and 3rd, jumped slowly 9th, losing touch from 12th, 8 lengths off front pair when knuckled on landing and fell 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) sft in Dec.
Closing Ceremony (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 16, 27l behind Baradari (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
