in touch, led 8th, shaken up approaching last, eased flat, comfortable
in touch, jumped slow 4th, chased winner 4 out, easily outpaced by winner before last
always in rear, hampered 4 out
tracked leader until 8th, weakened next
led and soon clear, raced wide throughout, jumped right and headed 8th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, beaten when unseated rider 9th
This should prove to be a penalty kick for Desert Quest with Space Cowboy the only likely danger. The selection was a former top handicap hurdler winning the County Hurdle at last years Cheltenham Festival. He won on his chase debut at Taunton at short odds and although not totally fluent at his fences he will improve in that department and if doing so will win with head in chest. Space Cowboy will be the only danger. He was in the winners enclosure at Fontwell last time out and in the process looked very much capable of following up. He has more experience than his rival and the yard are having a purple patch at present but on hurdle ratings he has no real chance of beating Desert Quest if both put in clear rounds.
Desert Quest (IRE) 2-9fav (11-0) Held up, hit 2nd, left 2nd 7th, led and went right last, very easily, won at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) gf in Nov beating Triggernometry (11-0) by 4l, 6 ran.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Held up last and pulled hard, hit 4th, headway 4 out, led approaching 3 out, steadied and hit last, shaken up and pushed out flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (3) gf in Nov beating Red Moor (10-7) by 1l, 3 ran.
Bluecoat (USA) 11-2 (11-10) Raced wide in rear, ridden 3 out, never dangerous, last of 14, 49l behind Blast The Past (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
Boscall Hill (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Prominent, chased leader 7th until next, ridden 12th, weakened after 4 out, 3rd of 6, 33l behind Cash On Friday (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Champagne Rossini (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Towards rear when fell at the 3rd in race won by Ravenscar (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Supreme Leisure (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Struggling from halfway, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Russian Trigger (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.