tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, led after 9th, headed approaching 3 out, close up when not fluent last, held towards finish
always behind, pulled up before 4 out
held up, not fluent 2nd, headway to lead when not fluent next, headed after 9th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
led until 3rd, prominent, no extra approaching 2 out
took keen hold, held up, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, not fluent next, headway 4 out, mistake 2 out, went 2nd when not fluent last, driven and stayed on to lead towards finish
not always fluent, prominent early, chased leaders, no extra 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 8th, led before 3 out, edged right flat, headed towards finish
prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place when hit 4 out, well held after
WESTER ROSS drops into this grade over fences for the first time since winning at Leicester in January last year. It's less than 12 months since he was finishing within seven lengths of Doeslessthanme in a Class 2 at Newton Abbot off a 13lb higher mark and will be tough to beat here if anywhere near that form. Paul Moloney prefers him to stablemates Captain Paulie and Tarkari. Tough Talkin Man has had plenty of chances while Groomed didn't beat much at Fakenham on New Year's Day. Street Dance has some decent form over hurdles and is potentially well-treated but refused when last seen over the larger obstacles in 2011.
Captain Paulie (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, not fluent 3rd, in touch 4 out, soon outpaced, went 4th last, no impression, 4th of 7, 12l behind Greywell Boy (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
Wester Ross (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Always well in rear, blundered badly and slightly hampered 2nd, never in contention after, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Nozic (10-10) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Street Dance (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 22l behind Capellanus (10-9) at Wolverhampton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Tough Talkin Man (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Bad mistake, virtually fell and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Seigneur Des Bois (10-9) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Groomed (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, disputing 2nd when bumped 3 out, no extra from last, 4th of 5, 13l behind Sawpit Supreme (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Tarkari (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led until 1st, prominent, not fluent 3rd, lost place when not much room and mistake 4 out, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 12l behind Oranger (9-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, one pace 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 12, 19l behind Oranger (9-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Take Of Shoc's (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place 8th, tailed off 12th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Denali Highway (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
