held up in rear, headway from 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, clear when jumped left last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, soon switched right, not fluent 5th, hung left after 2 out, 3rd and one pace before last
held up in mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway after 8th, lost place before 3 out, soon well held, plugged on from 2 out
led after 1st, ridden and headed after 2 out, no impression on winner when hit last, kept on
took keen hold in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 4th and one pace before last
led until after 1st, chased leader, every chance 2 out, no extra before last
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
Jepeck has been in good form since the turn of the year while Prime Venture won a valuable veterans’ chase at Sandown last month and is only 2lb higher back over hurdles. Fellow veteran BALLYANDY responded to Finn Lambert’s urging to go clear at Fakenham earlier this month. That was his first victory in more than two years and he has gone up 8lb but he clearly retains plenty of ability. Ask For Glory has a very long absence to overcome but Bells Of Peterboro has won his last two starts here and should be thereabouts again with Brinkley also interesting reverting to the smaller obstacles.
Ballyandy 9-4fav (12-0) Close up in 4th, disputed 3rd 9th, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Kansas City Chief (11-8) by 18l, 4 ran.
Brinkley (FR) 2-1fav (11-8) 1 led, headed and tracked leader close up before 6th, ridden before 5 out, weakened 4 out, well behind when pulled up before last, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ask For Glory (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-3) Restrained in midfield, smooth progress to chase leader before 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 34 1/4l behind Does He Know (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct.
Prime Venture (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Held up off the pace towards rear, steady headway tracking leaders 12th, went 2nd after 3 out, led before last, stayed on gamely, won at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Final Nudge (11-0) by 9l, 13 ran.
Jepeck (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Prominent, led narrowly 4th, headed and pushed along after 3 out, rallied and led again 2 out, ridden before last, 2 lengths ahead and jumped right final flight, kept on well but headed closing stages, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Sizable Sam (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Belargus (FR) 33-1 (10-10) Towards rear when fell 1st, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Bells Of Peterboro (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Led until before 2nd, led 3rd, not fluent and headed 4th, led 5th until 6th outpaced after 4 out, no impression after, 6th of 9, 20 3/4l behind Risk And Roll (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Mr Muldoon (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up, blundered 1st, mistake next, behind and struggling 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up 3 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
