tracking leader when hampered jinked right and unseated rider 3rd
raced keenly, tracking leaders when left in lead 3rd, ridden and joined bypassing omitted last, headed 1f out, no extra in 3rd
raced keenly, tracked leaders, left in in 2nd place 3rd, challenged bypassing omitted last, ridden to lead 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
led until fell 3rd
held up in 5th, left in 3rd place at 3rd, went 2nd entering final furlong, driven to lead inside final furlong, edged right stayed on (2 hurdles omitted on both circuits omitted due to low sun, 7 hurdles jumped instead of normal 11)
tracked leaders, hampered by faller lost place at 3rd and dropped to rear, mistake 6th, never on terms after
Balco Coastal, a useful sort in bumpers, has won minor contests over hurdles at Huntingdon and Ludlow with the minimum of fuss but this will be a sterner test of his credentials. HILLCREST is built to jump fences but is now 3-3 over timber and was always holding favourite I Am Maximus in a Listed race here four weeks ago. He can win again even though A Different Kind is unbeaten under Rules and won’t go down without a fight. The fast-improving Picanha may prove best of the rest ahead of the once-raced North Lodge.
Hillcrest (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Made virtually all, not fluent 7th, joined off final bend, landed awkwardly last, asserting after last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Jan beating I Am Maximus (11-7) by 2l, 7 ran.
A Different Kind (IRE) 1-5fav (11-12) Kept wide tracking leader, led before 2 out, shaken up and came easily clear between last two, in no danger when reached for last, eased towards finish, won at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan beating Lalochezia (11-2) by 11l, 4 ran.
Balco Coastal (FR) 1-4fav (11-5) Handy, led after 4 out, went clear with one other before 3 out, shaken up before 2 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed after last, ran on gamely, always doing enough, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Frere D'armes (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Harper's Brook (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Raced keenly in last pair, headway into 3rd 3 out, travelling well in 2nd before next, soon lost 2nd and weakened, 4th of 5, 25 1/2l behind Lossiemouth (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
North Lodge (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 2 out, pressed leader before last, not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well to lead closing stages, won at Aintree 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec beating Bombs Away (11-4) by nk, 8 ran.
Picanha 7-2 (11-4) Towards rear, good headway chasing leaders after 4th, went 2nd on inside 2 out, stayed on to lead run-in, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec beating Kyntara (11-4) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
