held up towards rear, slow 2nd, headway 10th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 4 out
mid-division, keen hold, not fluent 7th, some headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
always behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
always prominent, led 5th, headed 8th, soon pushed along, led again last, ran on well
led until after 5th, led again 8th, headed 4 out, soon under pressure, weakened
behind, detached 7th, pulled up 10th
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed last, no extra
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never able to challenge
always behind
held up mid-division, headway 10th, soon ridden to challenge, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway and effort 4 out, soon no impression
Silver Ingot won well on his reappearance and Robert Alner's gelding is fancied to follow up here; Obelix De Longechaux and Whispered Secret make up the shortlist. The selection steps up in trip today having won convincingly at Lingfield at the end of November. That was his first run for over two and a half years and he has been given a break of a month or so to get over that run. Assuming that he can repeat that performance he should go well although this company looks a lot tougher. Stan drops in grade and also steps up in trip and assuming that the ground doesn't deteriorate any further, he could run well. Supreme Prince is just one course and distance winner who needs respect but he hasn't excelled in tougher races so far this season, whilst Whispered Secret should be respected now dropped in grade and with the ground to suit. Bold Fire and Nadover need respect but neither has really sparkled of late, although the latter may have come on significantly for his reappearance run at Haydock. Obelix De Longechaux steps up in class but should not be ruled out, however it is Silver Ingot who receives the vote.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 11, 28l behind Kelrev (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Whispered Secret (GER) 5-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 12th, every chance 3 out, soon under pressure, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Kelrev (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Bold Fire 7-2 (10-12) Held up, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Refinement (11-6) at Kempton 2m 5f lst hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Nadover (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led 5th, headed 8th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Opera Mundi (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Stan (NZ) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, outpaced 9th, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Roman Ark (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Wain Mountain 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, well behind 7th, pulled up before next pulled up 5 out in race won by Michael Muck (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 15 ran.
Which Pocket (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Always prominent, led after 3 out, clear next, not fluent last, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Junctiontwentyfour (9-13) by 7l, 13 ran.
Master d'Or (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 11th, hampered 5 out, led 3 out, ridden clear, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov beating Highland Chief (11-6) by 5l, 11 ran.
Obelix De Longechaux (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway and chased leader 9th, led 4 out, ridden after 3 out, driven out, just held on, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd beating Ronald Jack (11-3) by a nk, 11 ran.
Silver Inngot (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, challenging and not fluent 4 out, led soon after, in command 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov beating Zorro De La Vega (10-11) by 10l, 9 ran.
Down The Stretch 66-1 (10-11) Held up, headway 9th, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 10, 11l behind From Dawn To Dusk (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs in Mar.
