tracked leader, fell 1st
held up in touch, badly hampered 1st, went 2nd at the 6th, led 5 out, soon headed, led again 3 out, clear before last
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, chased winner before last, no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd place close home
led, fell 1st
held up in touch, ridden before in 4th and blundered 4 out, not recover
tracked leaders in 3rd, left in lead 1st, headed 5 out, soon led again, headed 3 out, kept on and just held for 2nd place close home
in rear, blundered 1st, weakened from 6 out
Le Bacardy won this last year when trained by Tony Carroll. He's only 5lb higher but has had a break since disappointing last time at Ludlow and looks to have plenty of his plate this time. Strongpoint is a very decent hurdler and a successful return to chasing when scoring at Naas in February. He's not badly treated on his form over the smaller obstacles but Yorkist has had his limitations exposed since winning at Catterick in January while Dunraven Storm's confidence may be suffering a little at present. DUKE OF NAVAN fell when Dunraven Storm won at Cheltenham in November but didn't enjoy the undulations of that track. He is now 9lb better off and can take his revenge with his latest second at Carlisle looking better now than it did at the time. Drying ground would bring My Brother Sylvest into the equation, though he's still 2lb higher than when runner-up at Sandown in January.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 2-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, held up tracking leading pair, closer before 8th, effort on wide outside into 2nd before 4 out, 1 length down and mounting a challenge when fell 4 out, in a race won by Carraig Mor (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs in Mar, 4 ran.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Tracked winner, challenged last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Just Cameron (11-2) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
Yorkist (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, breasted 2nd, 2nd 4 out, every chance briefly 3 out, held before next, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Traffic Fluide (11-3) at Sandown 2m nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
My Brother Sylvest 66-1 (10-5) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led after 2nd, not fluent 8th, headed next, lost 2nd when not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 20, 21l behind Next Sensation (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Mar.
Le Bacardy (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Behind, struggling 8th, weakened and behind from 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Gardefort (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Strongpoint (IRE) 5-2fav (10-10) Prominent, 2nd after 2nd, on terms before 6th, jumped slightly right 2 out, led run-in and stayed on well, won at Naas 2m hcp chs sft in Feb beating One Cool Shabra (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Shrapnel (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Dark Dune (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
