led to 1st, close up when blundered and unseated rider 5th
tracked leaders, went 2nd at the 10th, ridden 3 out, one pace from last
led after 1st, ridden 3 out, not fluent next, all out
held up in rear, outpaced 9th, not fluent 3 out, headway approaching next, chased winner after last, stayed on well flat, just held
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened from 2 out
Ange De Villez bounced back to form last time out with this better ground and is expected to go in again, with Sparkling Taff and Insurgent the two most likely to fight it out for minor honours. Paul Nicholls' ex-French gelding will have to give weight to the whole field if he is to score again but he looks capable of holding his own off a mark of 114 and with limited opposition, he looks the one to side with. The form of his victory at Uttoxeter reads well here and he gets the vote. Insurgent possibly didn't last home when last seen and although he takes a slight drop in trip today, he may be of more interest when dropped in trip again. Therefore Sparkling Taff looks the main danger to the selection, Sue Smith's gelding has made a pleasing start over fences and can continue to improve, although again stamina may be a slight issue. Young Smokey shapes as though he needs a longer trip and the ground may be an issue, so for that reason he must be opposed and we will return to Ange De Villez as the confident selection.
Ange De Villez (FR) 10-3 (11-1) Chased leader until 3rd, regained 2nd before 8th, led approaching 3 out, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Mar beating Green 'n' Gold (10-8) by 3l, 6 ran.
Orang Outan (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along 4 out, headway under pressure next, outpaced 2 out, 6th of 13, 20l behind Toulouse Express (11-2) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Sparkling Taff 13-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway, chased leader 9th, every chance last, ridden no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Ton-Chee (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Insurgent (IRE) 9-4fav (10-9) Held up in rear, left 4th at 3rd, headway to be in touch 10th, ridden and went remote 3rd 12th, kept on, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Day Du Roy (10-8) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Young Smokey (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Mid-division, reminders 5th, lost place next, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Auntie Kathleen (10-8) at Haydock 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
