mid-division, blundered 8th, lost place before 11th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, blundered 8th, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, one pace in 5th when not fluent last, ridden and no impression flat
in touch, mistake 6th, headway 4 out, went 2nd and switched inside approaching 2 out, every chance when hit last, soon lost place, kept on same pace in 3rd flat
mid-division on outside, headway and in touch 12th, soon pressed leader, led before 2 out, ridden and edged left flat, held on near finish
tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, ridden approaching last, switched inside and chased winner when not much room flat, switched right and stayed on towards finish, just held
in rear, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 9th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division on outside, headway and in touch 3 out, went 3rd and effort 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no extra in 4th flat
tracked leader from 3rd, led 11th, headed before 2 out, weakened last
towards rear, headway into mid-division 3 out, chased leaders and in touch when blundered badly next, ridden and stayed on flat, no impression
towards rear, ridden and stayed on into mid-division 2 out, never near leaders
led 2nd, headed 11th, soon lost place and behind, no danger after
mid-division when blundered 5th, soon lost place and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
behind, mistake 5th, struggling 4 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division when mistake 4 out, weakened next, behind when fell heavily 2 out
This is normally won by a relatively unexposed type but we are going against the trends this year. OHIO GOLD is having his 10th start over fences but was third in this last year off a 2lb higher mark and he again ran well at the track in January when fourth to the promising Indian Castle and RSA Chase entry Annacotty. Just beaten at Kempton earlier, he looks fairly treated and could go close at big odds. Pendra has yet to prove he stays this far but there are possibilities about easy Kempton scorer Present View and Musselburgh winner Ericht will enjoy the drying ground, though was well behind the selection at Kempton and is 7lb worse off. Buywise will need to improve again to compete a four-timer but Buthelezi has plenty of natural speed and could figure if handling these stiff fences. Art Of Logistics tackles this rather than the Arkle but doesn't look particularly well treated. Dursey Sound and Close House are better handicapped but have been a tad disappointing so far over the larger obstacles. Manyriverstocross was third in last year's County Hurdle and Attaglance is a former Festival winner so they could be the pick of the remainder, though Baby Mix is also interesting.
Ericht (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, challenged 4 out, led before next, soon clear, eased flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Bar De Ligne (11-6) by 9l, 7 ran.
Up To Something (FR) 11-8fav (11-7) Led to 7th, led again before 11th, pushed along before 5 out, headed before 2 out, lost 2nd before last, weakened run-in, 5th of 7, 13l behind Victor Hewgo (11-0) at Doncaster 3m nov chs (4) gs in Jan.
Grandads Horse 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, lost place before 7th, mistake 12th, well beaten 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Kapga De Cerisy (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Art Of Logistics (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders in 4th, closer entering straight, ridden and no impression before last, no extra run-in,, 4th of 6, 20l behind Defy Logic (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Manyriverstocross (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, tracked leader from 3rd, led 8th, not fluent 10th, jumped left 2 out, headed when not fluent last, no extra, 2nd of 3, 9l behind Oscar Whisky (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) hvy in Feb.
Persian Snow (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Towards rear, headway before 7 out, blundered 7 out, went 2nd before 5 out, led 2 out, clear after last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb beating Greywell Boy (10-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Pendra (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, chased leaders next, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, weakened just before next, 7th of 10, 18l behind Lancetto (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec.
Present View 5-2fav (11-8) Tracked leader 3rd, led 10th, came clear from 3 out, easily, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Ballinvarrig (11-9) by 10l, 10 ran.
Attaglance 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, 5th and beaten 2 out, one pace, 5th of 11, 8l behind Wyse Hill Teabags (10-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Dursey Sound (IRE) 8-13fav (11-7) Tracked winner, not fluent 3rd, effort 3 out, soon under pressure, never able to challenge, last of 2, 2l behind Bit Of A Jig (11-7) at Catterick 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Feb.
Close House 3-1 (11-8) Sweating, tended to jump right, held up last, pushed along outpaced and no chance when blundered 3 out, last of 4, 14l behind Brick Red (11-5) at Wincanton 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Ahyaknowyerself (IRE) 1-2fav (11-0) Prominent, led 5th, ridden and strongly pressed after 4 out, ridden clear flat, eased close home, won at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) sft in Jan beating Bin End (11-0) by 7l, 4 ran.
Festive Affair (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Went right 1st, made all, pushed along from 4 out, kept on well for hand riding, hung left flat, driven and stayed on final 100 yards, held on, all out, won at Newbury 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Jan beating Dark Lover (11-9) by nk, 5 ran.
Buywise (IRE) 15-8fav (10-13) Held up in touch, smooth headway 11th, led going well 4 out, clear last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Elenika (11-2) by 9l, 7 ran.
Tony Star (FR) 11-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, blundered badly 1st and 3rd, mistake 4 out, some headway after 3 out, no impression, blundered 2 out, 8th of 16, 21l behind Johns Spirit (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Buthelezi (USA) 2-1 (10-12) Made all, clear from 3 out, pressed before last, held on well towards finish, won at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) gd in Dec beating Une Artiste (11-5) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Ohio Gold (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) In touch main group, close up 7th, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th flat, 4th of 11, 8l behind Indian Castle (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
King Vuvuzela (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear early, headway before 4 out, 5th 3 out, ridden into 2nd before last, disputed last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 4th of 21, 4 1/2l behind He'llberemembered (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft in Jan.
Gardefort (FR) 3-1fav (11-6) Held up in rear, went 2nd before 8th, challenged on bit 5 out, ridden before 4 out, quickly weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bobcatbilly (10-8) at Haydock 2m 5f (3) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Baby Mix (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Led and set steady pace, not fluent 11th and next, headed 3 out, soon dropped to 3rd and no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 4, 25l behind Easter Day (11-0) at Ascot 2m 5f grad ch (2) sft in Dec.
