led and set good pace, joined 2 out, soon ridden, headed run-in, kept on and not pace of winner
in touch in 4th, mistake 8th and dropped to rear, headway 10th to track leaders in 3rd, challenged on bit when blundered 2 out, led run-in, very comfortably
in rear, pushed along before 2 out, soon in 4th place and no impression
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, one pace in 3rd from 2 out
tracked leader, weakened before 4 out
MONDO CANE won easily over hurdles at Southwell and doesn't look badly treated back over the larger obstacles. He's been placed in four of his previous runs over fences and looks the one to beat today getting 4lb from Market Rasen runner-up Larteta. It's well over two years since Bob Will last won a race and he's not really threatened to end that poor record lately. He's also racing from out of the handicap, as is Flichity, while it's exactly 12 months since Roparta Avenue last saw a racecourse.
Larteta (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led narrowly 10th, headed soon after 4 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Mister Wiseman (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Mondo Cane (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, mistake 3 out, led going well last, easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft beating Oscar O'scar (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Roparta Avenue 16-1 (11-0) Took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, driven and one pace before 2 out, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 10, 8l behind Ballyvoneen (10-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar '14.
Bob Will (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Close up, tracked leader 11th, hampered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Lord Fox (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd, 8 ran.
Flichity (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked winner throughout, ridden 3 out, kept on but no chance with easy winner, last of 2, 8l behind Ainsi Fideles (11-8) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gd.