made all, jumped right, well clear after 11th, unchallenged
not always fluent, chased winner who was well clear after 11th, clipped 4 out and pecked, no chance with winner and being pressed for 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
not always fluent, held up in 3rd, winner well clear after 11th, pushed along 16th, pressing for 2nd but no chance with winner when left in 2nd 2 out
NonRunner
MISTER COFFEY has made the frame in four of his five starts so far over the larger obstacles. He finished second in last season’s Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir here and is overdue a first success over fences. All of his rivals are out of the handicap with the progressive Green Vault just preferred to Hidden Heroics of those. Art Approval hasn’t looked a natural chaser so far.
Hidden Heroics (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Handy, left in lead after 3rd, ridden and went clear 4 out, never in any danger thereafter, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Mr Glass (11-1) by 23l, 4 ran.
Green Vault (IRE) 4-6fav (11-1) Not always fluent and soon off the pace in rear, steady headway on inside and jumped into contention 4 out, soon switched out and headway, went 2nd 3 out, led next, soon clear, stayed on strongly, won at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Clan Legend (12-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Art Approval (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Pressed leader, led after 9th, headed next, driven along 2f out, lost 2nd bypassing omitted last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Kinondo Kwetu (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Mister Coffey (FR) 5-1fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, awkward 10th (bechers), well adrift 4 out, no impression, 16th of 29, dist behind Mac Tottie (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
