held up mid-division, headway 14th, weakened approaching 3 out, left 4th when fell last
held up, ridden and struggling from 9th, pulled up before 16th
held up behind, struggling from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
close up, ridden 16th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
prominent, weakened from 16th
always behind
in rear, soon driven along, struggling from 11th, blundered 17th, tailed off
mid-division and mistakes, reminders after 10th, weakened from 16th
always towards rear, left poor 4th last
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division, jumped slowly 7th, weakened from 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, not fluent 12th, headway 18th, weakened approaching 3 out, moderate 4th when refused last
prominent, led after 2 out, ridden clear after last
A cracking good line-up for this Grade 2 race and, from a shortlisted three of Joacci, Eurotrek and Ebony Light, we will side with Joacci. The lightly-raced Joacci looked very useful when scoring at Cheltenham two runs ago and was still running well when brought down at Warwick last time. He is very much respected now that his stable looks to be getting more fully back into the groove. Eurotrek looked potentially high-class in winning that race and, despite having been raised 13 pounds for that success, remains of interest today. Fifteen pounds better off for the 15 lengths that he was beaten on that occasion, Sir Rembrandt, who looked more like his old high-class self that day, is also respected. Chives would need to recapture his best in order to feature. Add to the line-up the formerly-top-class First Gold, who has dropped to a potentially-interesting mark, the tough-as-teak Double Honour, Paul Nicholls' Welsh National winner, L'Aventure, Ginger McCain's Peter Marsh Chase winner, Ebony Light, and the 2004 Skybet Chase winner, Tyneandthyneagain, then you can see that we have a race to savour. Further spice is added by the presence of Irish raider What A Native, who comes here seeking a five-timer, and his fellow Irish raider, A New Story, who is closely weighted with him based on recent Leopardstown form, then you can see that it is a race to also enjoy. Once again, though, for the selection, we will stick with Joacci.
Joaaci (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up when brought down at the 7th in race won by Eurotrek (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Eurotrek (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 14th, led on bit approaching 2 out, clear last, ran on, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan beating Sir Rembrandt (11-7) by 15l, 13 ran.
Chives (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 9th, kept on approaching last, 7th of 15, 14l behind Nine De Sivola (9-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and headway 16th, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 13, 15l behind Eurotrek (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan.
First Gold (FR) 33-1 (11-12) In touch, weakened 10th, in rear when unseated rider 3 out in race won by Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Double Honour (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Soon prominent, weakened 14th, 7th of 13, well behind Eurotrek (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan.
L'Aventure (FR) 14-1 (10-4) Always prominent, joined leader 3 out, ridden and led 2 out, left clear last, won at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec beating Heros Collonges (10-11) by a distance, 18 ran.
Ebony Light (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Held up in touch, joined leader 4th, led 5 out, clear approaching 3 out, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Kingscliff (11-10) by 9l, 5 ran.
Truckers Tavern (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders and not fluent throughout, pushed along approaching 13th, weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 5, 23l behind Ebony Light (9-13) at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Tyneandthyneagain 28-1 (11-10) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, 6th of 11, 23l behind Be My Better Half (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan.
Model Son (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Led to after 8th, weakened quickly and pulled up at the 9th in race won by Lord Killeshanra (10-12) at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (C) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
What A Native (IRE) 4-1fav (9-10) Close up on outer, disputed lead approaching 2 out, led entering straight, clear approaching last, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan beating Ross River (10-4) by 1l, 12 ran.
A New Story (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Held up, 8th 3 out, kept on well under pressure from next, 3rd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Dun Doire (9-10) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Ossmoses (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) Led to 5th, led again 13th, headed 4 out, hit 2 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Kerry Lads (11-6) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
