in touch, blundered and lost place 1st, behind, close up on outside 6th, weakened 3 out, tailed off in 3rd when pulled up before last
held up behind, mistake 4th, not fluent after, reminder after 9th, soon chased leaders, outpaced in 3rd 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when tired jump 2 out, pulled up before last
jumped boldly, led 2nd, made rest, drew clear from 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably
soon prominent, lost place after 5 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, pressed winner after 9th, hit next, one pace when went right 3 out, no chance with winner from next, tired jump last
tracked leaders to after 5 out, weakened before next, behind when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, in touch on inside, lost place when mistake and reminder after 11th, lost touch next, blundered 6 out, pulled up before next
PEARLYSTEPS, winner of this 12 months ago, was just starting to make ground when unseating Jane Williams on his reappearance at Taunton in a race in which Richmond eventually finished runner-up. The sprightly 13-year-old is probably the one to beat again ahead of Connies Cross, who was a little disappointing on his return to action between the flags when beaten by Ace High. Chartreux is not the force of old while Grove Pride has an absence to overcome.
Chartreux (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Led, joined from 5th, headed 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp sft in May.
Grove Pride 9-2 (11-12) Prominent, mistake 4th, not fluent 12th, mistake 15th, hit 17th, lost place when not fluent 19th, behind 4 out, pulled up before next, at Perth 3m 7f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Pearlysteps 11-4 (12-6) Towards rear, headway before 5 out, in 3rd when unseated rider 3 out, at Taunton 2m 7f (6) hvy in Jan.
Richmond (FR) 7-2 (12-2) Led 1st until 11th, outpaced 12th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Mendip Express (12-2) at Warwick 3m (6) sft in Jan.
Ace High 7-4 (12-5) A gng wl; led 13-14; led 3 out; sn clr; easy, won at Cocklebarrow 3m 6f gs in Jan beating Connies Cross (12-5) by 20l, 10 ran.
Connies Cross (IRE) Evensfav (12-5) Hdwy 14; lost plce aft 19; one pce 3 out, 2nd of 10, 20l behind Ace High (12-5) at Cocklebarrow 3m 6f gs in Jan.
Jaunty Journey 33-1 (11-10) Close up, led 5th, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 7, 22 1/2l behind Palypso De Creek (12-4) at Wetherby 3m (6) hvy in Feb.
