jumped right at times, led, hit 2nd, headed 6th, led before 9th, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led before 2 out, clear last, easily
held up, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, closed 4th, leading trio getting away before 6th, went 3rd 11th, closed 13th, lost 3rd and no impression after 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 4th, closed when not fluent 13th, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression on winner
kept wide, chased leader, led 6th, headed before slow jump 9th, slow again and struggling next, slow, landed on top of fence 11th and pulled up
towards rear, not fluent and never really going, behind 9th, mistake 12th, pulled up after
Evander won on good to soft going at Doncaster but didn't handle heavy ground at Sandown so should do better in the drying conditions. Whoshotthesheriff landed a lucrative graduation chase on heavy ground at Carlisle in November and was placed behind two smart rivals at Doncaster in January. WEST TO THE BRIDGE was a big disappointment in four starts over fences in 2019 but has returned to hurdling in strong company in good form. He'll be receiving 6lb from the two previous winners and that may be enough to get his chasing career back on track. Castletown has had 19 starts over fences without winning.
Evander (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Led, mistake and headed briefly 6th, awkward 11th (water), pushed along and headed approaching 3 out, weakening when blundered badly next, pulled up soon after, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Whoshotthesheriff (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, effort 4 out, close 3rd and shaken up after 3 out, no extra when not fluent last, 3rd of 5, 12 1/2l behind Ibleo (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Captain Cuckoo 10-1 (12-0) Mists; hdwy 14; wknd app 3 out, 4th of 11, 37l behind Revels Hill (11-7) at Badbury Rings 3m mdn sft in Feb.
Castletown (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Prominent on outside, lost ground after 4th, not fluent 11th, outpaced after next, went 3rd 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Gaelik Coast (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (3) sft in Feb.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led on outside, jumped right 2 out, soon headed, not much room last, held flat, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Nightboattoclyro (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Flow Away (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Led until ridden and headed when blundered badly 3 out, pulled up before next, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
