held up when fell 7th
held up mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened after next
held up, blundered 6th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
held up, unseated rider 8th
chased leaders, led 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, hit last, stayed on well
joined leaders 6th, led 8th, headed 10th, lost place from 12th
led to 8th, weakened 11th
prominent in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
close up, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, challenging when blundered last, one pace
Private Be did not beat much when opening his account over fences here earlier this month on testing ground but earlier form over hurdles suggests that today's ground should not inconvenience the gelding and he is taken to follow up here at the main expense of Nice Try and Ross Comm. The last mentioned should appreciate this drop in grade having been well held in the William Hill Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival last time but the faster ground may not help Sue Smith's gelding so he may be best watched. Whereareyounow has taken advantage of a dropping mark of late and remains potentially well treated so a market move for Brendan Powell's gelding would be of interest. Fourty Acers probably found the ground too testing at Sedgefield last time and could be of interest, particularly if the market speaks in his favour. Brooklyn Brownie may need some help from the handicapper now and of more interest may be Nice Try although the general form of horses from the yard of Venetia Williams has to be of some concern. That is not a problem with Private Be being trained by Phillip Hobbs though and he gets the vote.
Private Be 4-9fav (11-2) Made all, clear 2 out, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f beg chs (4) sft beating Royal Paradise (11-2) by 11l, 4 ran.
Launde (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-10) Led to 3rd, chased leader, upsides 6th, reminders 8th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 7, 29l behind Magic Sky (10-12) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Ross Comm 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division, hit 6th, headway after 15th, in touch, not on terms with leaders when hampered 2 out, no chance after, 8th of 23, 17l behind Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Nice Try (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led 8th, clear from 10th, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy beating Petite Margot (11-12) by a distance, 6 ran.
Turgeonev (FR) 7-1 (10-13) With winner until approaching 4 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 7, 22l behind Calatagan (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Whereareyounow (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Made all, stayed on under pressure run-in, won at Kelso 2m 6f amt hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating Getinbybutonlyjust (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, soon lost place, beaten when pulled up 3 out in race won by Good Citizen (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Brooklyn Brownie (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Led until after 1st, remained prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 12, 8l behind Rio De Janeiro (10-7) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
