cl up, rdn and e.c 3 out, wknd appr lst
hld up, rdn 7th, bh wh p.u bf nxt
hld up, rdn and hdw 8th, led appr 2 out, rdn out
al bh, nv tbld ldrs
led to 4th, rdn and wknd 3 out, p.u bf nxt
cl up, led 5th, hdd 8th, wknd nxt, p.u bf 2 out
hld up, hdw 8th, rdn and e.c 2 out, hit lst, wknd flat
in tch, bh fr 4th, p.u bf 8th
cl up, led 4th, hdd nxt, led again 8th, rdn, hdd and btn wh fell 2 out
al bh, t.o fr 8th, p.u bf 2 out
An interesting handicap chase, where Needwood Lion is the likely favourite to give weight away all around and may well be good enough to do so. The ten-year-old has been in fine form just lately and has shown plenty of enthusiasm in winning at both Hereford and Kempton, with a second sandwiched in between. However, he has now gone up 22lbs for those last three runs, and though he will go on the ground, the weight is likely to find him out. Instead we will take a chance with Joyeux Royale. Ironically, the selection was pulled up in the race won by Needwood Lion at Kempton on Boxing Day. However, significantly, he wears a tongue strap for the first time today, he will relish the testing ground, and he comes from a yard bang in form. He should also be happier reverting to this trip and despite an F in his form column he normally jumps well and represents a value alternative to the jolly. There are others with chances though, not least Marigliano, who won a hurdle here (good to soft) last month. The gelding is also a course and distance winner in a chase two years ago off a mark of 100 and a reproduction of that sort of form would give him every chance of his current lower mark. Passereau won an ordinary handicap at Bangor in October, but looks to be exposed judging by his only since, when well held in third on soft ground at Chepstow. He is overlooked here. The likely pace setter will be Amarettoforanna, who made all to win an amateur's handicap here in December. A 5lb rise for that narrow margin win will probably be enough to stop him going in again, though he does jump well and will certainly give them plenty to do if they are to pass him. Of the remainder, El Cordobes has an obvious chance. The veteran has been in great heart recently, with a narrow defeat at Huntingdon followed by a win at Market Rasen in soft ground. The gelding also has winning form over course and distance and has to be greatly respected, though at 12 he is trying to win from his highest ever mark, which is enough to oppose him here. One other to note is Jolly Side, who has been dropped a little in the weights after two runs over here. The ground is likely to be a bit too testing for him, but note any market moves for Charlie Mann's runner.
