held up in touch, took keen hold, mistake 6th, weakened quickly before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, mid-division before 7th, went 3rd before 3 out, one pace and no impression
led, headed 2 out, ridden after last, kept on and held
in rear, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on well
held in touch early, soon towards rear, weakened before 10th, tailed off and jumped slow and left 5 out
Clondaw Knight made a winning debut over regulation fences at Kelso but couldn't quite overcome a massive 12lb rise in a better race at Doncaster. He still has plenty of scope and looks a threat though the concession of 10lb to BINCOMBE may prove beyond him. Philip Hobbs' grey could hardly have been more impressive when making all for a very convincing victory at Newbury and a 9lb rise doesn't look excessive. Oscatara, a winning point-to-pointer, hasn't impressed in two subsequent starts after landing a novice hurdle at Bangor and was well beaten when runner-up on his chasing debut last time. Alderbrook Lad was in fine form before finding 3m2f much too far at Carlisle and this is his trip while Rocking Blues put his head down and battled to victory at Kelso so won't go down without a fight. Ballymacahillcross has shown some ability over hurdles and makes his chasing debut.
Oscatara (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Raced keenly, tracked winner, led 7th, headed 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression with winner from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Croco Bay (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Feb.
Clondaw Knight (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Towards rear, headway before 8th, every chance last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Billy Cuckoo (10-13) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Led, mistake 10th, ridden and headed before 3 out, plugged on, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 5, 23l behind Pinerolo (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Feb.
Rocking Blues (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, in touch 4th, soon tracked leader, driven to challenge approaching bypassed 2 out, led last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, just held on, won at Kelso 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs beating Fiddlers Reel (11-12) by nk, 9 ran.
Bincombe 5-6fav (11-0) Jumped well, made all, came clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb beating Be Definite (11-8) by 19l, 3 ran.
Ballymacahillcross (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Ericht (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb '13.
