tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden before last, kept on well
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on and held run-in
held up behind, headway before 3 out, kept on from 2 out
led, mistake 6 out, soon pushed along, headed 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, weakened before 3 out
rear division, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
Cyrius Moriviere fell on his chasing bow here then unseated his rider at the first at Ludlow. He was travelling like a winner when his saddle slipped in a novice chase here last time but his jumping will be a concern in this higher grade. Un Beau Roman is tough and reliable, however, while Ludlow runner-up Gardefort could figure with a clear round. Yorkist won the Castleford Chase at Wetherby over Christmas but is 5lb higher. Romain De Senam has picked up a penalty for beating two rivals at Leicester on Tuesday but Cloonacool doesn’t look badly treated on his return to chasing and makes more appeal than Double W's. UPSILON BLEU has top weight but is only giving 7lb to the bottom weight. He’s only 2lb higher than when winning over course and distance last March and looked to be approaching peak fitness at Musselburgh at the start of the month.
Upsilon Bleu (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Behind, headway before 5 out, led before 4 out, headed 3 out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Cold March (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Cloonacool (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along and went 2nd before 2 out, no impression when lost 2nd between last two, soon ridden and one pace in 3rd, dropped to 4th last strides, 4th of 9, 10l behind Maestro Royal (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Romain De Senam (FR) 1-20fav (10-11) Jumped left, made all, canter, won at Leicester 2m (3) gd in Jan beating Agreement (11-0) by 6l, 3 ran.
Double W's (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, mistake 5 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 21 1/2l behind Knockgraffon (11-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Gardefort (FR) 14-1 (11-7) In touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace closing stages, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Colin's Brother (10-3) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Cyrius Moriviere (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Led, ridden 6 lengths clear when saddle slipped to the right and unseated rider 2 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Jan.
Un Beau Roman (FR) 20-1 (10-5) Mid-division on inside, mistake and lost place 5th, left close up 3 out, led after next, headed last, carried right flat, switched left and stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Eastlake (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Yorkist (IRE) 9-4fav (10-4) Towards rear, headway 5 out, led 2 out, ridden after last, held on towards finish, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Doctor Phoenix (10-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
