prominent, led 13th until after 4 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
prominent, slow jump 2nd led 7th until 11th, weakened approaching 14th
led until 4th, prominent, went badly right 7th, led 11th until 13th, ridden and led again approaching 3 out, headed and went badly right last, no extra
held up, headway 5th, effort after 14th, weakened 3 out
behind and soon nudged along, struggling 13th, headway 4 out, led last, stayed on strongly
prominent, led 4th until 7th, struggling when hit 15th, stayed on again from 3 out
mid-division until blundered badly and unseated rider 13th
hampered 1st, held up, clipped heels on bend after 10th, headway 12th, led after 4 out, ridden and headed before next, weakened 2 out
in touch, hit 9th and 10th, headway 14th, ridden after next, hit 3 out, stayed on
Chery D'or has to concede 9lbs and upwards away to his rivals and he may struggle to do so, especially given his recent form, so a safer option looks to be River Indus, who gets the vote over Toni Alcala. The last mentioned has been well held in recent starts over hurdles but may do better off his current mark on his debut over fences. Jonjo O'Neill's Golden Oak has disappointed since winning a novice chase at Towcester in November and looks best watched at present, while Master Alf has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated since coming from point-to-points. Kiltimoney has been running better than most of these but faces no easy task from 4lbs out of the handicap and preference is for River Indus. Bob Buckler's gelding had to work hard for his narrow success at Taunton last time and has harshly been raised 7lbs for that success but trip and ground conditions suit and he is the only one of these in decent form at present so looks the safest option.
Chery D'or (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden approaching 10th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kenzo III (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Toni Alcala 18-1 (11-2) Chased leader until 9th, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 36l behind Scots Dragoon (10-4) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
New Perk (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, lost place 8th, soon beaten, 13th of 15, well behind Jackie Boy (10-10) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
River Indus 17-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 11th, left in lead and hampered last, ridden out flat, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb beating Croc An Oir (11-3) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Golden Oak (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, reminder after 8th, headway after 10th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 15, 32l behind Phareight Dei (9-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Master Alf (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Led, jumped right 13th, headed approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 5, 10l behind Verasi (11-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Jaloux d'Estruval (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 11th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off when pulled up in race won by River Indus (11-5) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Cusp 7-1 (11-9) Prominent, mistake 6th, pushed along approaching 9th, weakened before last, 5th of 16, 7l behind Mondial Jack (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 5-2 (9-9) Tracking leaders when unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Georges Boy (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f amt hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb, 7 ran.
