hampered 1st, held up, steady progress from 7th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, every chance when mistake 4 out, soon ridden, 3rd and held when hit last
hit 1st, soon in touch, driven along from 6th, close up when blundered badly 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
behind, some headway 9th, ridden after next, no further impression
tracked winner from 4th, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, kept on, always held from next
tracked winner until 4th, close up, ridden after 9th, soon beaten
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, 4th and beaten when blundered 2 out
made all, drew clear from 3 out, comfortably
held up, ridden after 9th, stayed on from 3 out
High Calibre is narrowly preferred to Wenger here with Femme D'avril the other to consider. The selection is chasing the hat-trick today and he won despite making a bad mistake last time out when beating Aviation. He is clearly going the right way and he looks the one to beat. Wenger has been running well but he is not without his quirks and he did look a little reluctant to go past the leader when chasing home Bally Rainey last time out. Femme D'avril has got the form to win this and this faster ground will suit, but she has had a number of hard races of late and she may benefit from a short break after this. Rowdy Yeats remains lightly-raced and there may be more to come from him, but he will need to improve to get competitive and for the winner we will return to High Calibre.
Vinmix De Bessy (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Held up, hit 7th, headway next, close 2nd when fell 4 out in race won by Nimby Run (9-10) at Kempton 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
High Calibre (IRE) 6-4fav (11-13) Held up, headway 5th, challenged last, led near finish, all out, won at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Aviation (11-12) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Wenger (FR) 6-5fav (11-12) Chased winner throughout, upsides and not fluent last, ran on, just failed, 2nd of 4, shd behind Ballyrainey (9-11) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Albarino (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Held up, headway to go 4th after 4 out, no further impression from next, 4th of 8, 12l behind Brave Villa (11-2) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Marcel (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 4 ran.
Flinders Bay (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Held up, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Character Building (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Femme D'avril (FR) 5-4fav (12-0) Held up in last pair, mistake 11th, headway to chase leading pair approaching next, weakened 3 out, beaten when blundered last, 4th of 6, well behind Alfadora (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Rowdy Yeats (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Led, hit 4 out, soon ridden and headed, one pace from next, 4th of 10, 5l behind Nimby Run (9-10) at Kempton 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Karoo 7-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, went 2nd 10th, ridden 4 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 23l behind Nemetan (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
