tracked leading trio, headway to 3rd 6th, mistake 4 out, driven to chase winner and hit 3 out, no impression and held before last
always last, mistake 2nd, blundered 4th, jumped left from next, struggling 9th, tailed off
led until 3rd, pressed leader, led approaching 4 out, ridden before 3 out, in command before last, stayed on well
chased leading pair until 6th, ridden and struggling in 4th before 4 out
pressed leader, led narrowly 3rd until approaching 4 out, chased winner until 3 out, soon no extra in 3rd
Nonrunner
Wise Men Say has dropped to a fair mark now and Colin Tizzard's gelding has to be respected with the yard back among the winners but he is hard to back with confidence on recent form and it may be worth giving one more chance to THIEVERY, who gets the vote over Ours. Mark Rimell's gelding has not been at his best under testing ground of late but should do better now racing on this surface and he has to be strongly considered having been given a chance by the handicapper. The Evan Williams-trained Lukie Victor has not been in the best of form of late and is readily discounted despite having dropped in the weights and of more interest may be Mon Chevalier, who has run creditably in two starts this term having missed all of last season. The Arsonist and Prince De Lacour make limited appeal and preference is for Henry Daly's Thievery, who is a pretty consistent performer over fences and he may do better racing in a smaller field today.
Mon Chevalier (IRE) 11-2fav (11-9) Held up and off the pace, good headway 8th, chased winner soon after 3 out, no impression on long run to next, 2nd of 11, 28l behind Holmwood Legend (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Lukie Victor (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 9, 44l behind Tom O'tara (10-11) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb.
Wise Men Say (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until 6th, lost place 7th, stayed on flat, 4th of 9, 12l behind Tempting Paradise (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Ours (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Prominent, led 3rd until 7th, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 10, 34l behind Sea Saffron (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Thievery 9-2fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 14, well behind Star Galaxy (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
The Arsonist (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Star Galaxy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Prince De Lacour (FR) 11-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, 37l behind Romney Marsh (11-6) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
