tracked leading trio, some progress 12th, pecked 14th, ridden 3 out, chased winner flat but always held
held up tracking leading pair, hit 10th, joined leaders 12th, chased winner from next, ridden 4 out, rider lost whip approaching last, one pace
led, headed 3rd, hit 6th, ridden 12th, weakened next
led from 2nd, ridden 3 out, kept on ridden out
Rowlands Dream and Dream Alliance have both shown ability but Classified should be too classy for his rivals and is hard to oppose. The selection disappointed when pulled up under testing conditions in the Pendil when last seen but his earlier form under more suitable ground over fences and earlier in his career over hurdles means that David Pipe's gelding should be different class to his rivals today. Patman Du Charmil has ability but has not shown it for some time, while Auburn Duke has given little sign of encouragement from just four career outings. Taunton winner Rowlands Dream has more to do than Exeter scorer Dream Alliance, who is preferred for the forecast spot behind the hard to oppose Classified.
Classified (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Jumped left, raced wide, never going well in rear, driven approaching 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off whe pulled up at the 12th in race won by Natal (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Dream Alliance 13-8 (11-8) Led, soon clear, headed approaching last, soon weakened, last of 4, well behind Jaunty Times (11-8) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Rowlands Dream (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Led, headed before 8th, led approaching 2 out, driven clear from last, won at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Feb beating Nobody Tells Me (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Patman Du Charmil (FR) 20-1 (10-1) Held up, mistake 10th, ridden after next, soon struggling, 6th of 10, 35l behind Flying Enterprise (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Auburn Duke 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, beaten when pulled up 2 out in race won by Aitch Doubleyou (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
