mounted on walkway, raced on inside, led until jumped slowly and headed 2nd, chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th until 9th, 2nd again 12th, pushed along and every chance last, found no extra run-in
led 2nd, made rest, not fluent 10th, ridden before 2 out, strongly pressed last, stayed on gamely run-in
held up in last pair, good headway on inside tracking leaders after 14th, weakened quickly before next
held up in 4th, closer in 3rd before 4 out, ridden and starting to lose place when fell 2 out
raced out wide, held up in last trio, lost place after 14th, never on terms after, left poor 4th and hampered 2 out
chased winner until after 7th, went 2nd again 9th until 12th, chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, left modest 3rd 2 out
Highland Hunter showed a very willing attitude to get off the mark over fences at Carlisle but is saddled with a 7lb penalty. Philip Hobbs has two entries and, with owner-rider David Maxwell sidelined at present, Richard Johnson has been riding DOLPHIN SQUARE. He didn’t do a lot wrong on his chasing bow here last month, when favourite Welsh Saint was an early casualty, and was just beaten off this mark over hurdles in November. Stable companion Earth Moor has already won over fences, at Fontwell, and L'Air Du Vent won here in November. Hold That Taught has yet to finish out of the frame over the larger obstacles but he’s been climbing the weights without winning.
Highland Hunter (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Not much room 1st, held up, headway 5th, not fluent and reminder 12th, went 2nd before 14th, led 4 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, led again last, driven flat, held on, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Innisfree Lad (10-6) by nk, 5 ran.
Earth Moor (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Golden Taipan (11-4) at Kempton 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Dolphin Square (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, chase clear leader 11th, pressed winner 5 out, ridden 4 out, plugged on one pace, 2nd of 5, 6 1/2l behind Full Back (11-4) at Exeter 3m (3) sft in Jan.
L'Air Du Vent (FR) 10-3 (11-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, closed 17th, mistake 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gs in Dec.
Welsh Saint (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leader 4th, ridden after 4 out, faded before 2 out, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Lieutenant Rocco (10-12) at Ffos Las 3m (4) hvy in Feb.
Hold That Taught 10-3 (10-3) Tracked winner, every chance briefly just after last, held final 100 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Ask Me Early (10-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
