jumped left throughout, led until 2nd, remained prominent, hit 6th, hard ridden 4 out, weakened after next, modest 4th
with leader, led 3rd, mistake 4 out, challenged 2 out, ran on strongly (one fence omitted)
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, every chance when jumped left next, no extra last
held up in rear, headway 3 out, every chance next, weakened flat
chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, behind when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Donald McCain and Jason Maguire won this last year with Bunclody and KRUZHLININ is fancied to repeat the feat. He won on his chasing debut at Carlisle and improved on that despite only finishing second to Parsnip Pete at Newbury last month. Majala opened his account over fences at the seventh attempt when scoring at Taunton on his reappearance but has an alternative engagement at Ascot while Realt Mor never recovered from some poor jumping at Ayr on his comeback and was well beaten. Ohio Gold could figure on his chasing bow but Roman Conquest hasn't raced since 2010.
Kruzhlinin (GER) 11-4 (11-2) Led, slow 6th, jumped left 5 out, headed after last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Parsnip Pete (11-0) at Newbury 2m 1f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Majala (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 7th, made rest, clear when mistake last, eased run in, won at Taunton 2m beg chs (3) sft in Nov beating Renard D'Irlande (11-0) by 10l, 7 ran.
Ohio Gold (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) In touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 19, 31l behind Swincombe Flame (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan.
Realt Mor (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway when not fluent 7th, hampered 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 8, 20l behind Prosecco (10-0) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Roman Conquest 8-1 (11-0) Hit 1st, led until 2nd, led 4th, hit 12th and ridden, pushed along and headed 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Duc De Regniere (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb '10.
