led, headed after 1st, led before 4 out, ridden and headed last, one pace
soon tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 6 out, weakened before last
in rear, blundered 1st, weakened before 5 out, tailed off
tracked leaders in 4th, headway before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, led last, kept on well
led after 1st and keen, hung right from 5 out, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up behind, weakened from 5 out, tailed off, tired when fell 2 out
Despite being pulled up in a handicap at Cheltenham last month, Solar Impluse has taken well to fences and should be winning again soon. But he has to give weight here to a couple of potentially smart novices. Cheltenian, a former champion bumper, is going chasing relatively late in life but is very lightly-raced for his age and is no back number. However, it will be a surprise if JOSSES HILL is beaten a second time over the larger obstacles. A Grade 2 winner over hurdles last season and second to Vautour in the Supreme Novices', the fact that he was backed to beat the high-class Ptit Zig on his chasing bow at Ascot suggests he is held in high regard and he'll strip fitter today. The others would need mishaps from the principals to get involved.
Solar Impulse (FR) 11-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, switched right before 6th, not fluent 9th, bad mistake 4 out, unable to recover and pulled up before next, in a race won by Sew On Target (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Cheltenian (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, closer in 6th 4 out, progress 2 out and soon 2nd, ridden and no impression on winner before last where mistake, kept on same pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Le Vent D'Antan (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl in Apr.
Ivan Boru (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Mostly chased leader until after 8th, lost place approaching 3 out, last of 9, well behind Tantamount (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Dec '13.
Josses Hill (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Not fluent, raced keenly, tracked leading pair, mistake 8th, not fluent 12th and next, went right 3 out, hung right soon after, went 2nd approaching 2 out, went right again 2 out, ridden and beaten between last 2, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Ptit Zig (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Minella Forfitness (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Led, tended to jump right, headed before 4 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner from next, kept on when hard pressed for moderate 2nd from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 29l behind Un Ace (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (4) gs in Nov.
Abuelo (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Behind, lost touch halfway and pulled up, in a race won by Jollyallan (11-8) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (2) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
