tracked leaders, led 7 out, headed before 4 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway 7 out, led before 4 out, kept on well from last
tracked leaders and keen, unseated rider 6 out
led to 4th, ran in snatches 12th, weakened before 4 out
held up towards rear, ridden to chase leaders before 4 out, chased winner before last, kept on and no impression
with leader, led 4th, headed 7 out, went 2nd before 2 out, lost 3rd place run-in
held up towards rear, weakened from 7 out, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 6 out, chased leaders 5 out weakened from next
held up in rear, pushed along 11th, went 4th before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place run-in
PALYPSO DE CREEK has won 11 of his 14 starts between the flags and was winning for the eighth time under Rules when successful at Wetherby at the start of the month. The leading point-to-point horse of 2013, the 11-year-old gets on well with Claire Hart and the partnership can notch another success here. Foundry Square's jumping fell apart at Ludlow last time and the Newbury winner was pulled up. He has something to prove now while it looks like Marufo and King Fontaine are lights of former days. Beneficial Reform isn't easy to catch right but has won over these fences and could sneak into a place today at decent odds.
Marufo (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Prominent, not always fluent, hit 3rd, led 7th, headed after next, led 11th, headed before 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 12, 19l behind That's Rhythm (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m 3f hts chs (3) sft.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 6-4fav (11-7) In touch on outside, effort 3 out, challenged next, led last, ridden and kept on flat, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) hvy beating Doctor Kingsley (11-11) by 2l, 10 ran.
Beneficial Reform (IRE) 5-1 (12-7) (cp) prom til wknd qckly app 3 out; pu nxt, in a race won by Rumbavu (12-7) at Larkhill Racing Club 3m ptp gd in Jan, 10 ran.
Charles Bruce (IRE) 33-1 (11-13) Tracked leaders and keen, led before 8th, clear before 10th, headed before 3 out, reminders soon after, weakened after last, 6th of 9, dis behind Pearlysteps (11-9) at Towcester 3m hts chs (6) hvy in Jan.
Foundry Square (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, clear 3rd after 9th, struggling next, soon no chance with front pair, continued tailed off until pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Pearlysteps (12-0) at Ludlow 3m hts chs (5) hvy, 5 ran.
Croan Rock (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 12th, chased leaders before 4 out, never on terms, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Palypso De Creek (11-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) hvy.
Keenan's Future (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) (v) no hdwy 13; pu aft 3 out, in a race won by Bubbly Breeze (11-0) at Harkaway Club 3m ptp hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
King Fontaine (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by That's Rhythm (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m 3f hts chs (3) sft, 12 ran.
Schindler's Prince (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd until mistake 7th, ridden to chase winner 10th until before 2 out where not fluent, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 10l behind Little Legend (11-13) at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) sft in Jan.
