always in touch, reminder 3f, ridden and one pace from 3f out
not jumped well in rear, mistakes 9th and 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2f out
prominent to 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 12th
jumped right in rear and not fluent, behind when mistake 12th, pulled up soon after
mid-division when fell 10th
prominent, led 6th until headed 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders to 7th, not fluent 8th, behind from next, tailed off
always in rear
led, headed 6th, chased leader until ridden and weakened appraoching last
held up towards rear, steady headway from 12th, led readily 3 out, comfortably
Unless Martin Pipe's newcomer Joaaci proves to be out of the ordinary, this should go to Ice Crystal, who is preferred to Motcombe. The selection is nothing special himself but his last time out second behind Indien Royal on his chasing debut represents the best form over fences on offer here and a reproduction of that effort may suffice. Former Irish point-to-pointer Joaaci is an interesting contender especially given his connections but has yet to show any rules form so cannot be backed with any confidence. Easibrook Jane has yet to translate her hurdles form to the larger obstacles, while Jonathan Geake's The Real Boss is probably flattered by his proximity to the useful Red Devil Robert last time. Of more interest then may be Robert Alner's Motcombe, who was again in the process of running a good race when unseating Andy Thornton last time. He should be thereabouts again but Ice Crystal has an obvious chance and gets the vote.
Ice Crystal 7-2 Tracked leaders, reminders after 3rd, left in lead 11th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Indien Royal at Wincanton 3m 1f beg chs (D) gs.
Monsieur Rose (IRE) 7-2fav Mid-division, outpaced in 5th when mistake 3 out, stayed on to take poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 12, 23l behind Kattegat at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Apr.
The Real Boss (IRE) 100-1 Towards rear, headway 12th, ridden after 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Red Devil Robert at Taunton 3m beg chs (E) gs.
Tradingup (IRE) 10-1 Behind, hit 7th, blundered 15th, no chance from next, 5th of 11, 17l behind News Maker at Kempton 3m cnd hcp chs 0-115 (E) gs in Feb.
Easibrook Jane 25-1 Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cetti's Warbler at Uttoxeter 2m 5f mrs hcp chs (A) gs, 14 ran.
Motcombe (IRE) 11-4 Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed 9th, close up and ridden when unseated rider 4 out in race won by The Lyme Volunteer at Hereford 3m 1f mrs beg chs (E) gs, 6 ran.
Joaaci (IRE) 8-1 won at Knockanard Irish pt-to-pt in February beating Cobham by 1l, 9 ran.
Five Alley (IRE) 16-1 Held up, headway 7th, no headway from 3 out, 5th of 11, 8l behind Cinnamon Line at Chepstow 3m beg chs (E) gd.
