held up in rear in slowly run race, headway to chase leaders 3 out, effort approaching next, soon outpaced, weakened before last
set steady pace until 2nd, remained prominent, effort 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
tracked leader, blundered 4th, soon lost place, mistake 7th, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on after last, never able to challenge
held up in touch, headway to chase leader 5th, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader in slowly run race, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never able to challenge
raced keenly tracking leaders, led 2nd, set steady pace, quickened after 3 out, headed and no extra towards finish
Titeuf De Tierce has his first run for Alan King having just lasted home in a four-year-old chase at Pau in January. He's probably best watched on this occasion while it's a long time since Stoway and Kilkenny All Star showed any worthwhile form, though the latter is potentially well handicapped. Surf And Turf could improve for the switch to fences and Laneguy was upsides the winner when falling at the last at Southwell and will make a bold bid to make amends. The vote, however, goes to COOLBEG who attracted considerable market support on his chasing bow at Wincanton only to get brought down early on. Lightly-raced, he can recoup losses today.
Titeuf De Tierce (FR) (10-1) won at Pau(FR) 2m 2f 4yo chs gd in Jan beating Cashmire Brown (10-7) by 2l, 6 ran.
Kilkenny All Star (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until 8th, not fluent 2 out, no extra, 6th of 9, 19l behind Tilly Ann (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Stoway (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway to chase leaders before 4th, went 3rd and hit 3 out, mistake last when weakening, 5th of 6, 23l behind Work Boy (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Coolbeg (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Mid-division, brought down 3rd, in a race won by Morestead (11-0) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs, 7 ran.
Surf And Turf (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, hampered 1st, ridden after 5th, weakened after next, 8th of 10, 29l behind Dormouse (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Laneguy (FR) 3-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, effort 4 out, led next, soon strongly challenged, headed approaching when fell last, in a race won by Saddlers Deal (11-5) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 5 ran.
