tracked leaders in 4th and in rear, went 3rd from 7th, led 5 out, clear when blundered 2 out, jumped left last, kept on well
with leader, led before 8th, headed 5 out, with winner 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon beaten
led, headed before 8th, lost place from 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 8th, pulled up before 5 out
Taquin Du Seuil didn't help his cause when stumbling at the last fence at Cheltenham and he just failed to peg back Oscar Whisky. He looks sure to go close once again but GEVREY CHAMBERTIN is preferred. The chasing debutant returned to action with a fourth victory over hurdles when landing a Grade 3 event at this track and his brother and stablemate, Grands Crus, has turned out top-class over fences. O'faolains Boy has the ground to suit and it was testing going when Knock A Hand won at Carlisle last month, but both he and Coverholder are looking to get back on track after failing to complete last time. Mondo Cane has been placed in a point-to-point and only needs to get round to pick up some prize money.
Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 6-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before last, pecked at fence, stayed on flat, always being held by winner, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Oscar Whisky (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) sft.
Coverholder (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, weakened after 11th, tailed off before 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Renard (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Prominent, led after 7th, headed 5 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Mountainous (10-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 20 ran.
O'Faolains Boy (IRE) 2-1 (10-10) Held up tracking leading pair, not fluent 2nd, mistake 10th, challenged 13th, led 3 out, joined next, soon driven along, headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Easter Day (11-0) at Ascot 2m 5f grad ch (2) sft in Dec.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 4th, 5 lengths clear 3 out, strongly challenged 2 out, hard ridden last, held on gamely, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov beating Utopie Des Bordes (11-0) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Mondo Cane (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Mid div, 6th halfway, left 3rd 3out,cont one pcd, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Pa Murphy (12-0) at Ballysteen 3m ire ptp gd in Apr '12.
