in rear, headway 6 out, went 4th before 5 out, soon weakened, in 3rd and beaten when fell last
led, headed before 6 out, weakened quickly after 5 out, pulled up
held up in touch, went 2nd before 5 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace from 2 out, blundered last
held up in touch, went 3rd before 5 out, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, led 6 out ridden before 3 out, clear from 2 out, kept on well
mid-division, headway 6 out to chase leaders, weakened before 5 out, tailed off before 4 out, pulled up
It's asking a lot of 15-year-old Victory Gunner to bounce back to form while another course and distance winner, Mark The Book, is also starting to look as though he's on a downward spiral. Philip Hobbs' stable is struggling for winners and Thomas Wild hasn't show much so far this term but Rydalis has won twice over fences this winter and Salut Honore landed a handicap on heavy ground at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve, though still has problems with his jumping. SEIGNEUR DES BOIS tackles 3m for the first time but certainly wasn't stopping when winning by nine lengths over 2m5f at Ffos Las last month when Timetoring was a distant third. Tom George's gelding may be worth following now he's got his head back in front.
Rydalis (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Led narrowly to 3rd, with winner until driven and outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 37l behind Safran De Cotte (10-11) at Chepstow 3m nov chs 0-125 (4) gs in Feb.
Mark The Book (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 13th, headed 4 out, no impression with front pair after next, weakened and lost 3rd between last 2, 4th of 6, 34l behind Storm Survivor (11-12) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
Thomas Wild 6-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden and outpaced in 3rd 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 12, 24l behind Virginia Ash (11-3) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Feb.
Seigneur Des Bois (FR) 3-1fav (10-9) Held up, headway 6th, hampered 8th, went 2nd after 5 out, jumped right and hit 4 out, led last, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb beating Buffalo Bob (11-10) by 8l, 9 ran.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, hampered 9th, last 11th, headway 13th, outpaced before 4 out, no impression, plugged on, 5th of 15, 46l behind Alderluck (11-5) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
Salut Honore (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Close 5th, pushed along in 3rd 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, no impression when dropped to 3rd soon after last, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Wild Ground (10-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
