held up in last pair, not fluent 2nd, went 3rd after next, went 2nd and closed on clear leader 7th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, no extra and headed final 150 yards
promiinent in chasing group, went 2nd before 2nd until 7th, weakened before 3 out
led in start and given 10 lengths lead, 20 lengths ahead 2nd, hit next, reduced lead when stumbled badly 5 out, headed 2 out, dropped to 3rd when mistake last, no extra flat
took keen hold, chased clear leader until before 2nd, dropped to rear, headway when blundered 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in last pair, headway to 3rd from 7th, went 2nd before last, stayed on well to lead final 150 yards
Gus Macrae has been most disappointing over fences so far and will need a much-improved performance to figure here, though this represents a significant drop in grade. Catholic Hill is a modest maiden over hurdles while it remains to be seen how a heavy fall at Newbury has affected the confidence of Tail Of The Bank, though Laura Young's gelding would go close on the pick of his form over timber. Dinarius has been well below par this season which leaves SURFING as the likely winner. Successful over hurdles and fences in his native France, the five-year-old was far from disgraced when third to Arkle favourite Ghizao on his UK debut at Newbury and should be good enough to concede weight all round here.
Surfing (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leader, chased winner 4 out, 2 lengths down last, weakened flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Ghizao (11-10) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Catholic Hill (USA) 10-1 (11-3) Behind, headway before 3 out, went modest 4th on long run to last, weakened and lost places flat, 6th of 14, 25l behind Whitcombe Spirit (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) hvy in Jan.
Dinarius 20-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 3 out, some headway 2 out, no impression when hit last, 6th of 12, 12l behind Quite The Man (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jan.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in 4th, effort to chase winner 4 out to next, soon ridden and no impression, weakened and lost moderate 3rd 2 out, 4th of 7, 31l behind Nadiya De La Vega (10-8) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan.
Tail of The Bank (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Chased winner 2nd, about 4 lengths down ridden and coming under pressure when blundered and fell 3 out, in a race won by Finian's Rainbow (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 3 ran.
