always prominent, every chance when fell 4 out
held up towards rear, beaten when hampered 4 out
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, all out
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, jumped left next, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 3 out, chased winner last, stayed on well, nearest finish
raced keenly, soon led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly
always behind, hampered 4 out
held up, headway halfway, hit last, kept on under pressure
always behind
mid-division, chased leaders after 7th, lost place before 4 out, pulled up before next
always behind
behind, under pressure before 4 out, headway next, never on terms
in touch, hard driven when hampered 4 out, kept on same pace
behind, headway 3 out, never able to challenge
For the selection here we will look no further than Venetia Williams' GREEN BELT ELITE. The gelding did the business last time out despite shouldering top weight, his jumping was also better and he is no doubt at the right end of the handicap, so could well defy a likely rise. The selection's most serious challenge may come from Master d'Or, who was victorious last time out. The nine-year-old, who had previously fallen over fences at Plumpton, was clearly none the worse for that spill and he coped well enough with the ground and he looks capable of going close. Another horse of note is Picot de Say. If he can keep on the pace in the latter stages the gelding should fare well here but for the selection we will stick with Green Belt Elite.
Cresswell Willow (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, headway approaching 12th, weakened 15th, 8th of 11, 38l behind Kilcrea Asla (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Master d'Or (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Held up in main group, ridden after 6th, steady progress from 3 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Mud Monkey (11-6) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Templer (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Mid-division, pecked 9th, effort after 3 out, weakened approaching last, eased, 14th of 16, well behind Cruchain (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Mars Rock (FR) 7-2 (12-2) Prominent, jumped left 5th, ridden after 7th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 20, 26l behind Gallileo Figaro (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 8-1 (9-9) Held up, took closer order 10th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from next, 5th of 6, 12l behind Oceanos des Obeaux (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Feb.
Picot de Say 6-1 (11-6) Prominent, led after 4th, blundered 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 16, 11l behind Marchand D'argent (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Callerlilly 33-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 7th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Dansimar (11-9) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Cool Cliche 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, lost place 5th, no impression after, 5th of 13, 17l behind Porters War (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Kristoffersen 40-1 (11-0) Always in rear, ridden and struggling 3 out, 12th of 19, 27l behind Cathedral Rock (11-10) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Clyffe Hanger (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and losing place when hampered on inside after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before next pulled up 3 out in race won by Gala Evening (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb, 20 ran.
Onyx Bruere (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Swainson (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
Farmers Cross (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) fell in race won by Mollys Garden (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 15 ran.
Nemetan (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 9th, every chance approaching 5 out, ridden when blundered 4 out, left 3rd last, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Massini Sunset (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, weakened quickly 3 out, 7th of 14, 49l behind Bally Conn (11-6) at Taunton 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Merry Music (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 6th, driven after 3 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 10, 18l behind Bally Conn (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Green Belt Elite (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, led 7th, clear last, comfortably, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft beating Anay Turge (9-11) by 8l, 11 ran.