chased leaders, mistake and weakened 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before last
held up and off the pace, struggling 9th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out
in rear, mistake 6th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leader until 9th, chased leaders, ridden before 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out until the last, rallied under pressure flat to lead final 50 yards
chased leaders, 6th and weakening when mistake 11th, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, went 2nd at the last, hung left and dropped to 3rd flat, kept on same pace
chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led narrowly next until approaching 4 out, chased leader until 2 out, soon weakened
last pair, pushed along and struggling in rear before 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
led until narrowly headed 10th, stayed pressing leader, led again approaching 4 out, battled on gamely, not fluent last, no extra and headed final 50 yards
towards rear, blundered badly 9th, pulled up before next
This looks the most competitive race on the card with several of these having already won this season. Umberto D'Olivate has gone up 7lb for winning at Chepstow but is very unexposed and has more scope than Special Account. There should also be more to come from Wincanton scorer Bincombe but this may be too tough for Ray Diamond, who has been hurdling lately. Moleskin is still climbing the weights but still preferred to Ballywatt, Ballinvarrig and the returning Sir Kezbaah. HOLLOW BLUE SKY won at Carlisle in October and ran well off his new mark when fourth at Wetherby. He may be good enough to recapture the winning thread in this.
Sir Kezbaah (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Always behind, ridden before 8th, never a factor, 5th of 11, 21l behind Rouge Et Blanc (10-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Ballywatt (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden before last in 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Highway Code (11-9) at Newbury 2m 2f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov.
Special Account (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, blundered and dropped to rear 4th, some headway before 5 out, plugged on same pace, no chance with leaders, 5th of 9, 32l behind Renard (11-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Umberto D'olivate (FR) 9-4fav (11-2) Blundered 1st, tracked leaders, slow jump and pushed along 10th, pushed along before 5 out, challenged next, led 3 out, hit 2 out, went left last, driven out flat, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov beating Overnight Fame (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ballinvarrig (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 5 out, joined next, ridden and headed 2 out, no chance with very easy winner, blundered last, 2nd of 6, 35l behind Get It On (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Oct.
Moleskin (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Prominent, led 6th, blundered next, headed 4 out, stayed on same pace and held from last, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Last Shot (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Hollow Blue Sky (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, blundered 11th, headway after 5 out, ridden before 4 out, left 3rd 3 out, soon went 2nd until no extra towards finish, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Glen Countess (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Bincombe 11-8fav (11-0) Jumped well, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7th, challenged 3 out, led before next, 3 lengths ahead last, pushed further clear flat, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Ring Bo Ree (11-11) by 7l, 5 ran.
Humbel Ben (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Towards rear, pushed along after 8th, struggling lost touch and tailed off 9th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Umberto D'olivate (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov, 10 ran.
Ray Diamond 10-1 (10-3) Prominent, led after 3 out, soon headed, switched left after 2 out, beaten last, edged left and stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 5l behind If In Doubt (11-8) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Knapp Bridge Boy 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, went poor 5th last, 5th of 6, 34l behind Brody Bleu (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
