raced keenly, held up, outpaced 4 out, tailed off when mistake last
in touch, effort 4 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next
tracked leaders, led 6th, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
made most to 6th, chased leaders until lost pace 10th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up, outpaced 8th, headway 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner
always prominent, led after 3 out, clear last, comfortably
chased leaders until weakened 10th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 9th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up when fell 7th
Polyphon has won his last two starts and is taken to complete a hat trick at the main expense of Terre de Java and Gone Too Far. The last mentioned has not been in great form over hurdles of late but showed signs of a revival on a recent start back on the flat so could be of interest. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Va Vavoom has been outclassed at Cheltenham and Aintree in his last two starts and may find this company more to his liking but he needs to improve, while a market move for Key Phil would be of interest. Shannon's Pride may be capable of better than he has shown of late now that Richard Guest's horses are running better and has to be considered although a bigger threat may come from Terre de Java but a 10lb rise for his Taunton win leaves him with more to do. Polyphon has also gone up in the weights but deservedly so and he gets the vote.
Terre de Java (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway 7th, led 9th, clear 3 out, eased near finish, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Magico (11-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
Gone Too Far 50-1 (11-7) Led, headed 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 14, 14l behind Sun King (9-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Polyphon (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, led approaching 4th, clear approaching 4 out, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Show Me The River (11-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
Va Vavoom (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, hampered 10th (Becher's), blundered last, stayed on flat, 9th of 29, 22l behind Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd.
South Bronx (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Mid-division until weakened 10th, 7th of 10, 43l behind Seeyaaj (10-2) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Key Phil (FR) 5-1 (11-10) In touch, ridden 8th, weakened next, mistake 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Nycteos (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar, 5 ran.
Moor Spirit 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 9th, hit 3 out, weakened after last, 4th of 10, 18l behind Polar Gunner (10-9) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Shannon's Pride (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 15th, 4th of 11, 46l behind Bubble Boy (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
