mistake 1st, raced in 4th, disputing 3rd from 7th, ridden and no chance with leading duo 4 out, went definite 3rd before 3 out, lost well held 3rd towards finish
tracked leading pair, hit 7th and joined for 3rd, no chance with leading duo 4 out, dropped to 4th when blundered 3 out, went well held 3rd again close home
chased clear leader, closed 4 out, led before last, came clear flat
pulled hard, led and soon well clear, not fluent 5th, reduced lead 4 out, ridden when hit 2 out, no extra and headed before last, clear 2nd best
Nicky Henderson had little option but to send RUTHENOISE chasing after her big rise in the weights for finishing runner-up to Binocular in a Listed contest at Sandown. She's been beaten subsequently over timber but gets all the allowances for her chasing debut and can make a winning start. Thumbs Up won a novice chase at Cartmel last May and made a decent return behind Giorgio Quercus at Leicester in January. He was in touch for a long way in a much better race at Kelso last time and looks the main threat. Holoko Heights landed a similar race to this at Worcester in September but was soon done with at Uttoxeter a couple of weeks later where he broke a blood vessel. He's best watched for now and the lightly-raced Fahrisee will need to brush up his jumping after poor efforts here and at Sandown.
Holoko Heights 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, jumped slowly and reminders 4th, soon lost place, pulled up after 5th, in a race won by Pouvoir (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov chs (4) gs in Sep, 7 ran.
Thumbs Up 7-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, chased winner from 2 out, jumped right and weakened from last, 4th of 5, 27l behind Premier Sagas (11-5) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (2) sft in Feb.
Fahrisee (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, fell next, in a race won by Osric (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Ruthenoise (FR) 7-2fav (11-5) Held up in rear, not much room 5th, headway 8th, led approaching 3 out where not fluent, headed last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Ocean Transit (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f mares hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
