held up towards rear, hit 8th, steady headway 5 out, well adrift when hit 3 out, no extra
prominent, awkward 4th, dropped to midfield 6th, pushed along 11th, ridden after 5 out, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway into midfield 10th, awkward 11th, ridden to chase leaders before 4 out, blundered 3 out, one pace from 2 out
midfield, towards rear 2nd, not fluent 11th, hit 5 out and ridden, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
midfield, prominent 7th, lost place 11th, ridden towards rear before 13th, lost touch after 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
made all, jumped well, drew clear 2 out, eased close home
prominent, lost place 9th, towards rear 11th, headway 14th, ridden after 4 out, blundered 3 out, moved into modest 2nd 2 out, stayed on from last
held up towards rear, headway to chase leader 4th, ridden after 4 out, faded before 2 out
An intriguing novices’ chase. Good And Hardy has his ground but his future lies in handicaps giving weight to inferior rivals. Blackjack Kentucky needed the experience at Chepstow in October and should be a different proposition today. Nestor Park is 0-5 over fences but hasn’t done a lot wrong this season and Eva's Oskar was travelling best when falling at Carlisle. Welsh Saint didn’t get far at Exeter last month but will have had plenty of schooling since. FADO DES BROSSES jumped well and won easily at Hereford. He needed the run when behind Eva's Oskar earlier at Exeter and there is more to come. Lieutenant Rocco would be the form pick on recent runs at Cheltenham and Wincanton but 3m has proved beyond him in the past.
Fado Des Brosses (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 4 out, 5 lengths clear 2 out, comfortable, won at Hereford 3m 1f (4) hvy in Dec beating Tobefair (11-2) by 6l, 4 ran.
Blackjack Kentucky (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 3rd, big jump next and 5th, headed 5 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 23 3/4l behind The Wolf (11-4) at Chepstow 3m (3) sft in Oct.
Eva's Oskar (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway into second 8th, joined leader and still travelling well when falling 5 out, at Catterick 3m 1f (4) hvy in Jan.
Fat Sam 9-4 (12-0) 4th when fell 10, at Milborne St Andrew 2m 4f mdn sft in Feb.
Good And Hardy (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 4th, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Lieutenant Rocco (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Led, narrowly headed 5th, pushed along after 13th, ridden before 3 out, dropped to rear before 2 out, kept on after last but lacked pace to trouble front pair, last of 3, 6 3/4l behind Messire Des Obeaux (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) gs in Jan.
Nestor Park (FR) 13-2jfav (11-7) Tracked leaders, challenged 16th, led 4 out, mistake last, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 14, nk behind Amateur (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Welsh Saint (FR) 11-8fav (10-12) Led, over jumped and unseated rider 2nd, at Exeter 3m (3) sft in Jan.
