chased leader, went left 4th, led 13th, narrowly headed when fell 4 out
in touch, pushed along after 8th, headway to chase leaders approaching 9th, weakened 9th, left modest 5th 4 out, stayed on to 2nd soon after last, no chance with winner
chased leaders, pushed along after 5 out, left disputing well held 2nd when blundered 4 out, 3rd and one pace after
last trio, struggling 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up in last trio, ridden and struggling in 5th before 4 out, left 4th 4 out, went modest 2nd next, dropped to 4th soon after last
led, went right 6th, headed and weakened 13th, left disputing modest 2nd 4 out, plugged on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, stumbled 10th, went 2nd 13th, led narrowly approaching when blundered and left well clear 4 out, jinked left and tried to run out 3 out, mistake next
held up towards rear, tailed off in 6th when fell 3 out
UPTHEMSTEPS unseated in a higher grade chase at Haydock last time having gone close in a decent beginners' event at Newcastle before that. He has plenty of scope for improvement over fences and is just preferred to Junior Jack, whose 10lb rise for an easy win at Huntingdon last time is negated by Daniel Hiskett's claim. Plunkett returned to form with a good effort at Fontwell recently and looks capable of winning off his current mark, as does November's Plumpton scorer Master Milan who has been placed twice since.
Harouet (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Raced widest of all, chased leaders, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 8, 27l behind Ben's Folly (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Roi De Rose (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Went left 1st, chased leading pair, mistake 2nd, mistake 5th, went 3rd before blundered 3 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 9, 31l behind French Ties (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Upthemsteps (IRE) 3-1fav (10-6) In rear, soon pushed along, blundered and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Cannington Brook (11-12) at Haydock 2m 4f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (3) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Dune Shine 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway approaching 7th, 6 lengths 4th and ridden when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Ballyallia Man (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f beg chase (4) gs in Feb, 9 ran.
Plunkett (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, good headway to 3rd 4 out, stumbled 3 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Current Climate (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Junior Jack 9-4 (11-10) Led until 8th, led next, not fluent 11th or 12th, clear from 4 out, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Roc De Guye (11-2) by 22l, 6 ran.
Master Milan (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Held up last, closer order to 5th before 6th, 3rd when blundered and lost place 8th, ridden in 5th after 4 out, stayed on to 3rd again 3 out, one pace and held when went left last, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Overnight Fame (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Jeanry (FR) 11-4fav (10-7) Towards rear, headway to go 3rd from 6th, not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Imperial Shabra (11-5) at Stratford 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
