chased leaders, mistake 5th, lost place when not fluent 6th, headway 8th, mistake next and 3 out, no extra towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, not much room next, headway 10th, jumped slowly 12th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, pushed along next, modest 6th 5 out, soon well beaten, tailed off
in rear, jumped big and slow, behind 5th, tailed off 8th, pulled up after
led until not fluent 1st, led 5th, headed next, mistake 8th, 4th and one pace from last, no extra final 150 yards
mid-division, headway 4th, mistake 8th, lost place 10th, behind before 12th, soon pulled up
led 1st until 5th, led next, not fluent 12th, headed 3 out, rallied 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on to lead again close home
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, outpaced 11th, well beaten 4 out
mid-division, headway 9th, challenged 5 out, led and jumped left 3 out, clear 2 out, went left last, edged right flat, headed close home
Nonrunner
ARBEO is an improving young chaser and, as he showed at Sandown last time, is clearly versatile as to trip. He's gone up a further 4lb but that may not be enough to prevent the four-timer as he is still receiving weight from all bar last week's Wincanton scorer Velator, who rates the danger despite his penalty. Arthur's Pass and Rouge Et Blanc both found a further climb up the weights too much last time but Simply Wings is still running well and Sew On Target kept finding more off the front end when winning at Chepstow. Thanks For Coming also has a chance on his form earlier in the season but is still a maiden over the larger obstacles and doesn't look particularly well treated.
Arthur's Pass 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division on outside, headway approaching 6th, blundered next, in touch when mistake 11th, lost place from next, mistake 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Rajdhani Express (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) sft in Mar, 20 ran.
Rouge Et Blanc (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent and reminders 9th, soon behind, pulled up before next, in a race won by Noble Legend (11-1) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
El Dancer (GER) 11-4 (11-7) Chased leader, left in lead 2nd, mistake 10th, narrowly headed 13th, pressed leader, led again 14th, ridden and headed before 2 out, rallied on inside to lead again before last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) sft in Mar beating Deciding Moment (11-0) by 9l, 5 ran.
Lets Get Serious (IRE) 6-4 (11-7) Tracked winner, lost place 4 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 22l behind Empire Levant (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Sew On Target (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Made all and set good pace, joined and strongly pressed 3 out, stayed on wel flat, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf beating Oscar Davy (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Thanks For Coming 11-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 3 out or 2 out, headway after, staying on and about to press for 2nd when hit last and unseated rider, in a race won by Loch Ba (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Grouse Lodge (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Disputed lead until led 5 out, headed before 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 44l behind Hunters Lodge (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Mar.
Arbeo (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Chased leader, chased new leader 6th, lost 2nd at 10th chased leaders, dropped to 4th at 13th, outpaced 4 out, hit 3 out, rallied next, went 2nd soon after 2 out and plenty to do, 3 lengths down last, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Mar beating Brunswick Gold (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Velator 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 8th, joined leader 13th, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd beating Carrigmorna King (11-12) by 11l, 8 ran.
Simply Wings (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, rider lost irons briefly 9th, outpaced in 4th when blundered 4 out, stayed on to modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Mcmurrough (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar.
