tracked leaders on outside, close up and effort 3 out, driven and one pace after next, well held before last
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden to chase front pair after next, kept on same pace, well held in 3rd from last
tracked leaders, effort to challenge 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, no impression with winner before last
made virtually all, not fluent and reminder after 12th, driven after 4 out, hard pressed next, soon ridden, drew clear between last 2, stayed on well
tracked leaders, lost place when not much room after 3rd, towards rear on outside but in touch when blundered badly 8th, not recover, quickly pulled up
held up in last pair in touch, hit 7th, reminders after 13th, outpaced when blundered 5 out, lost touch before next, no danger after
held up in last pair in touch, mistake 5th, reminders after 9th, lost touch 4 out, no danger after
pressed winner, effort 3 out, soon driven and one pace, lost place next, well held in 4th before last
BLAKLION was very game in landing the RSA Chase at Cheltenham considering he'd been up with a strong pace throughout. Connections will have high hopes that he can complete the double here but several of his rivals also ran well at The Festival. Native River was only collared close home in the 4m National Hunt Chase but had earlier finished 18 lengths behind Blaklion in a Grade 2 at Wetherby. Ballyalton defied top weight in a Listed novices' handicap at Cheltenham and deserves a crack at this higher level while Un Temps Pour Tout beat more experienced rivals in a Grade 3 handicap. That was his first victory over the larger obstacles so he should improve further, though Native River gave him weight and a beating at Newbury in November. Out Sam and Roi Des Francs both have something to prove in this grade.
Ballyalton (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, challenged going well after 3 out, led briefly between last 2, soon ridden, stayed on to regain lead final 110 yards, held on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar beating Bouvreuil (11-8) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Blaklion 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, not clear run after 3 out, pushed along to close 2 out, soon switched right, challenged last, led flat, stayed on gamely, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar beating Shaneshill (11-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Henri Parry Morgan 7-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway 13th, soon tracked front pair, led 3 out, drew clear from next, stayed on well, comfortably (4th last fence omitted), won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Delgany Demon (11-0) by 15l, 11 ran.
Native River (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, blundered 13th,went 2nd 19th until after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, outpaced approaching next, rallied going to last, hung left flat, went 2nd inside final 125 yards, stayed on well, closing on winner close home, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Minella Rocco (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m lst (1) gs in Mar.
Otago Trail (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) In touch, outpaced before 8th, plugged on to take 3rd place after last, no impression, 3rd of 5, dist behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Out Sam 13-2fav (10-12) Behind, struggling 12th, some headway 3 out, kept on same pace, never nearer, 7th of 23, 35 1/4l behind Un Temps Pour Tout (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Roi Des Francs (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, challenged 9th, led after 3 out, headed next, 5th and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat, 6th of 8, 20 1/2l behind Blaklion (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Always prominent, upsides 3 out, led last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Holywell (11-12) by 7l, 23 ran.
