led, ridden jumped right and headed 2 out, soon weakened and jumped right last
held up, headway on bit after 3 out, led 2 out, mistake last, headed flat, no extra
close up, chased leader 9th, every chance from next, driven to lead flat
keen, tracked leader, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakend before next
held up in rear, ridden before 6th, soon weakened, behind and pulled up before 2 out
Chef Tartare made a pleasing start to his chasing career at Chepstow last month and is taken to follow up off a 4lb higher mark at the main expense of Abalvino and Imaginaire. The selection had shown promise over hurdles for Paul Nicholls since coming over from France but it is over fences that his future surely lies, especially after a tidy debut effort when jumping well and being driven out to beat the more experienced Figaro du Rocher. A reproduction of that form should suffice. Top weight Black Bullet has claims on the form shown behind My Galliano at Huntingdon in January but has disappointed since then and a bigger threat may come from Imaginaire. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding has more experience of fences than most of his rivals and may be able to put that to some use. A market move for Abalvino would be of interest and Paul Webber's gelding again has the benefit of experience over fences in comparison to the selection but is not as good as he once was and has become difficult to win with. Major Belle makes only limited appeal in a race taken to go to the unexposed Chef Tartare.
Black Bullet (NZ) 9-1 Led to 2nd, chased leaders until lost place after 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Game On at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Feb, 6 ran.
Chef Tartare (FR) 5-2 Tracked leader, mistake 6th, led 2 out, driven out, won at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) sft in Feb beating Figaro du Rocher by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Imaginaire (USA) 25-1 Keen, chased leaders, ridden after 13th, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 25l behind Roschal at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Feb.
Abalvino (FR) 4-1 In touch, led 7th to 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Jordans Lad at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Major Belle (FR) 20-1 Held up in rear, pushed along before 5th, stayed on one pace and no chance when hit 2 out, 5th of 7, 24l behind Caballe at Plumpton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (F) sft in Feb.
