led, hit 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed between last two, headed after last, one pace in 3rd run-in
tracked leading trio, 3rd at 5th, not fluent 2 out, ridden and held when hung right between last two, dropped to 4th last, weakened run-in
held up in 5th, not fluent 2nd, 4th approaching 4 out, struggling in rear on long run before 2 out, went right 2 out, tailed off
raced on inside, took keen hold, tracked leading pair, 2nd approaching 3rd, challenged last, led after last, headed and not pace of winner run-in
raced wide, took keen hold, tracked leader until approaching 3rd, last pair after next, dropped to last approaching 4 out, rallied before 2 out, switched left before last, closed in 3rd last, led run-in, quickened clear
Otago Trail has won both start over hurdles with the proverbial ton in hand and will make a bold bid to complete his hat-trick upped in grade. Sirabad has his first run for Paul Nicholls but had decent form at Auteuil last year and Saint Charles benefited from his run here in November by winning at Doncaster last month but Vinnie Red had every chance when only third at Kelso last time. Ruby Walsh partners THISTLECRACK for Colin Tizzard and the seven-year-old can bounce back from behind outclassed at Cheltenham three weeks ago. He'd shot clear off a strong pace at Wincanton on his hurdles bow.
Otago Trail (IRE) 8-11fav (11-8) Made all, clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan beating Scoop The Pot (11-2) by 23l, 12 ran.
Sirabad (FR) (10-1) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f hdl gs in Oct beating Muretto (10-10) by 12l, 16 ran.
Vinnie Red (IRE) 2-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, driven before 2 out, chased leader before last, ridden and kept on same pace in 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Shades Of Midnight (10-7) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Saint Charles (FR) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, blundered 4 out, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, held on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jan beating Work In Progress (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Thistlecrack 25-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 9, well behind Ordo Ab Chao (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
