waited with in rear, hit 3rd, headway travelling well 4 out, challenged 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed before last, 3rd and one pace last, no extra in 4th final 100 yards
tracked leading pair, hit 3rd, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out
led, joined 3 out, narrowly headed 2 out, led again before last, strongly pressed when not fluent last, stayed on flat, just held on
tracked winner, not fluent 4 out, dropped to 3rd 2 out, rallied to chase winner again and every chance when hit last, kept on flat, just held
raced wide tracking leading pair in 3rd and 4th, badly outpaced 3 out, rallied and hung badly left flat, strong run to 3rd final 100 yards
Allerford Jack has won four times under Rules and the same number between the flags but likes to feel the sun on his back. Carrickmines has been struggling to make an impression in point-to-points recently but Little Legend is a recent winner between the flags and How's My Friend ran a nice race on his return at Huntingdon. REBEL DU MAQUIS was last seen a Class 2 handicap at Cheltenham in the autumn. He has won four of his 12 starts over fences and should have been freshened up by a spell hunting. Paul Nicholls' eight-year-old can outclass these with the once-useful stayer Nicto De Beauchene in the twilight of his career.
Allerford Jack 10-3 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 11th, headway after 13th, ridden approaching 2 out, 3rd and one pace last, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Ballybough Gorta (10-6) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Sep.
Carrickmines (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) Held up; hdwy by-passing 4 out; drvn & one-pcd last, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Special Occasion (12-0) at Taunton Vale 3m ptp gd.
Nicto De Beauchene (FR) 25-1 (12-6) Tracked leaders, weakened before 5 out, 8th of 10, 43l behind Cottage Oak (11-13) at Haydock 3m hts chs (4) hvy in Feb.
Rebel Du Maquis (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, closed 11th, tracking leaders when mistake 3 out, weakened next, 11th of 20, 38l behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
How's My Friend 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on outside, closed before 9th, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Freddies Return (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Little Legend 2-1 (11-0) (cp) made all; stayed on wl, won at Higham 3m ptp gd in Feb beating It Was Me (11-0) by 3l, 8 ran.
