chased winner until mistake 2nd, reminders after 3rd, weakened 7th
made all, clear 2 out, easily
prominent, chased winner from 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, beaten before 2 out
held up, not fluent 3rd, lost touch with leading pair approaching 8th, tailed off
Private Be should have the class to take this contest, at the main expense of Royal Paradise and Arctic Ghost. Phillip Hobbs has his stable in better form at present after some well-documented coughing issues, and reverting back to fences after a run in the Trophy Hurdle at Newbury, his gelding can take this contest. He wasn't beaten far behind Opera Mundi on his chase debut and with ground conditions to suit today, he gets the confident vote. Letham Air is very slow and would prefer better ground, whilst Arctic Ghost should build on his debut over fences and has place claims. Of more interest is Royal Paradise who battled on well to finish a runner-up last time out and looks the one to lay it down to the selection. However Private Be looks the one with most scope for improvement and he gets the confident selection.
Lethem Air 5-1 (10-10) Led to 9th, chased leaders until outpaced and blundered 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, well behind Sands Rising (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Private Be 20-1 (10-11) Led 2nd, blundered 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, gradually faded, 17th of 20, 38l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Royal Paradise (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Not fluent, chased winner, no impression from 3 out, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Good Spirit (10-11) at Stratford 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
William Butler (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden and weakened 4 out, 5th of 12, 42l behind Auntie Kathleen (10-8) at Haydock 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Arctic Ghost 13-2 (11-5) Led to 5 out, weakened when hit 3 out, 4th of 6, 30l behind Himalayan Trail (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Hutch 100-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, dropped to 4th at 3rd, ridden 5th, weakened next, last of 4, well behind Caribou (10-12) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) sft in Feb.
Something Gold (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, 13th of 15, well behind Franco (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
