off the pace in 3rd until hit 6th, raced in 4th, bad mistake 8th, tailed off when hit 10th (water), pulled up before next
held up off the pace in 4th, went 3rd at 6th, went 2nd after 9th, led after 4 out, clear home turn until before 2 out, headed last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in
chased leader who went clear 5th, lost 2nd after 9th, chased leading pair, hit 11th and ridden, lost 3rd and weakened 3 out, left remote 3rd before next
led and went well clear 5th, reduced lead before 9th, headed after 4 out, lost modest 2nd home turn, poor 3rd when pulled up before 2 out
well off the pace in 5th, jumped slowly 4th, gained a place at 10th, 3rd 3 out, closer under pressure into 2nd home turn, led and mistake last, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in
Rooster Cogburn took advantage of a tumbling mark to score at Hereford but has gone up 9lb since. Fanzio is struggling but Northern Poet needed the experience here last month and Tip Top Mountain has won at Fontwell and Uttoxeter this season. WILLIAM CODY is 2-2 over fences here and proving a much better chaser than hurdler so gets the nod to win again.
Tip Top Mountain (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led 6th, briefly headed before 10th, 1 length ahead 4 out, ridden before 3 out where not fluent, disputed lead 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on well to lead at the post, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Hometown Hero (11-11) by ns, 12 ran.
William Cody 5-4fav (11-3) Prominent, going okay when shaken up 3 out, soon ridden along and outpaced, kept on but no match for first two, 3rd of 7, 10 1/2l behind Will Sting (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Fanzio (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Jumped right at times, chased leader until after 3rd, not fluent 10th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten 3 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Heroique De Maulde (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Rooster Cogburn (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Jumped left at times, made all, came clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Hereford 2m hcp (5) gd in Feb beating Billingsley (12-0) by 6 1/2l, 7 ran.
Northern Poet (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, not fluent 5th, pushed along and headway 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 11l behind Grandeur D'ame (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
