tracked clear leading pair, closed steadily after 4 out, challenged next, ridden when left and narrow lead 2 out, driven and kept on well run-in
raced in 6th place and well off the pace, blundered and well outpaced 7th, well behind 4 out, close approaching next, ridden to challenge when hampered 2 out, kept on run-in
raced and 4th place and well off the pace, jumped slowly and well outpaced from 6th, closed on leaders steadily after 4 out, chased leaders next, chased winner and kept on under pressure run-in, held near finish
raced in 5th and well off the pace, closed steadily from 4 out, challenged 3 out, ridden to take narrow lead when blundered and fell 2 out
pressed leader and clear of rest, led narrowly 5th to 7th, hit 8th and next, stayed chasing winner until mistake and weakened 3 out
kept stong pace and made most to 5th, led again 7th, joined 3 out, ridden and close up when blundered badly 2 out, not recover
soon well behind, jumped slowly 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off
Jericho III has been well placed to win his last four starts and, while Richard Guest's gelding is now 13lbs higher than for his latest success and faces stiffer opposition, he looks worth backing again at the main expense of Supreme Developer and Figaro du Rocher. The last mentioned, like the selection, has been well placed of late but gave the impression last time that the handicapper may now have his measure and he may be best watched. The Paul Nicholls-trained L'Ange Au Ciel was beaten a when falling on his reappearance at Windsor in November and has not been seen since but remains unexposed and cannot be ruled out, while Arctic Spirit has claims on the evidence of his latest effort at Market Rasen but has to race from 4lbs out of the weights proper. Both Brooklyn Breeze and First Love have the ability to win a race of this nature but are inconsistent and of more interest is Ferdy Murphy's Supreme Developer, who has been running consistently well in novice events and now ventures into a handicap over fences for the first time. Jericho III has a progressive profile though and is taken to defy his rise in the weights.
L'Ange Au Ciel (FR) 4-1jt-fav Held up towards rear, hit 5 out, ridden and some progress 4 out, beaten when fell 2 out in race won by Massac at Windsor 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Brooklyn Breeze (IRE) 12-1 Held up in rear, effort and just in touch on outside when blundered 3 out, not recover and eased after, 11th of 16, 29l behind Buckby Lane at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Jan.
Supreme Developer (IRE) 7-2 Tracked leaders, effort to challenge when mistake 2 out, stayed on for 2nd flat, always held, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Pak Jack at Kempton 2m nov chs (B) gd in Jan.
Goldbrook 6-1 Jumped right throughout, led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Mistral De La Cour at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (C) sft in Jan, 3 ran.
Jericho III (FR) 6-5fav Made all, clear last, comfortably, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) sft beating Compton Amica by 6l, 10 ran.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 9-4fav Led until headed 2 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Chef Tartare at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) sft.
First Love 10-1 Led and jumped right, bad mistake 7th, headed approaching 9th, weakened 11th, 7th of 8, well behind Almost Broke at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) hvy in Dec.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 13-8fav Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, 2nd and held when pecked and unseated rider at the last in race won by Master Rex at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Arctic Spirit 16-1 Held up, pushed along 6th, ridden after 4 out, headway next, hard ridden approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Game On at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
