chased leaders, pushed along before 10th, left modest 3rd and mistake 2 out, mistake and dropped to 4th at the last, lost poor 4th run in
led until before 2nd, chased leader, led again 8th, headed before 3 out, weakened rapidly, eased, tailed off
last pair, jumped slowly 6th, blundered next, struggling in rear 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out (normal 4 out)
held up in touch, headway 9th, chased leaders in 3rd next, led 3 out, over 1 length ahead and going strongly when left clear 2 out, very easily
took keen hold, tracked leaders, led before 2nd, headed 8th, chased leader, stumbled next, led again briefly before 3 out, chased winner until before 2 out where left in modest 2nd, no chance with winner, finished tired, mistake last
chased leaders, outpaced 10th, plugged on flat
in rear, lost touch before 10th, plugging on when left in modest 4th 2 out, went 3rd at the last
in touch on inside, headway to chase leaders 9th, went 2nd before 2 out, over 1 length down but going ok when fell 2 out
Paddy The Stout finally came good at Kempton last month and is only 5lb higher here. It's too early to give up on Un Bon P'Tit Gars while Tresor De Bontee has taken well to fences and won't mind the heavy going. Headly's Bridge has proved a consistent performer over hurdles and should be thereabouts if taking to the larger obstacles but SMART MONEY looks better treated. He's also been knocking on the door over timber lately and is expected to improve now tackling fences as he was second to a couple of smart performers in point-to-points in Ireland earlier in his career. Sergeant Dick looks the pick of the remainder.
Un Bon P'tit Gars (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Led, mistake 1st, soon headed, stayed handy, blundered and lost place 10th, mistake next and pulled up, in a race won by Renard (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Sergeant Dick (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leader on outer, led before 7th, headed 7th, ridden before 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 6, well behind Bobcatbilly (10-8) at Haydock 2m 5f (3) hvy in Feb.
Tresor De Bontee (FR) 15-8fav (10-6) Took keen hold tracking leading pair, not fluent 6th, disputing 2nd 9th until 4 out, 3rd and outpaced next, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Brick Red (11-5) at Wincanton 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Headly's Bridge (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, hit 3rd, left in close 2nd next, pushed along and lost 2nd approaching 2 out, went 2nd again soon after 2 out, driven between last 2, about 1 length down last, stayed on well under pressure in closing stages, just failed, 2nd of 12, hd behind Aldopicgros (10-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Smart Money (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, left in lead before 4th, ridden before last, headed towards finish, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Twoways (10-10) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
The Ould Lad (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway to modest 5th and outpaced before 3 out, went poor 4th run-in, 4th of 10, 50l behind Cole Harden (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Paddy The Stout (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Held up off the pace in 5th, blundered 7th, headway approaching 4 out, chasing leaders and went 2nd when left in lead 3 out, went left 2 out, ridden and 2 lengths ahead when mistake last, reduced lead in closing stages, held on, all out, won at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Overclear (11-2) by nk, 7 ran.
Cody Wyoming 16-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 9th, headway when not fluent next, chased winner before 3 out, well held from next, weakened into 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Richmond (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
