Gardasee, Euro American and Harmony Brig are three against the field in another tough race to call and the vote is given to Gardasee. The selection would have won last time when second behind Livingonaknifeedge if he had not made a mistake two out and if he puts in a clear round of jumping here he will be hard to beat. Euro American rates the main danger as he beat You Do The Math last time in good style. However he will do well to give weight and a beating to some less exposed types. Harmony Brig also won well l;ast time out when beating First Look but the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over an ever longer trip and for that reason he is opposed. The Duke's Speech is another that will like the ground and won well last time out but he is more exposed than most. Of the remainder Industrial Star is unexposed and could go well at a price as he looks sure to improve but for the winner we return to Gardasee who has everything in his favour.
Euro American (GER) 5-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, smooth headway when mistake 3 out, led between last 2, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating You Do The Math (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Circassian (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) In touch, went 2nd and hit 7th, hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 9, 29l behind Be Be King (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
First Look (FR) 7-2 (11-0) In touch, challenged 3 out, lead narrowly next, headed last, kept on well, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Harmony Brig (11-10) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Front Rank (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Led to 4th, led again approaching 3 out, clear after next, easily, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb beating Lagudin (11-9) by 13l, 12 ran.
Harmony Brig (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Led, headed 2 out, rallied to lead again last, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (5) sft in Feb beating First Look (11-0) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Industrial Star (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 3 out, led last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Jan beating Balyan (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Serbelloni 4-1 (11-11) Mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 28l behind Stagecoach Diamond (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 1-2fav (11-5) Made all, clear when blundered 2 out, hit next, easily, won at Ayr 2m nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Le Millenaire (11-5) by 11l, 10 ran.
Arctic Cove 16-1 (11-3) In touch, stumbled and fell at the 4th in race won by Harmony Brig (11-10) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (5) sft in Feb, 18 ran.
Hush Tiger 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, beaten when fell at the last in race won by Nikola (11-2) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Lethem Air 13-2 (10-12) Led, hit 4 out, headed next, one pace, 3rd of 17, 9l behind Love That Benny (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
My Final Bid (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) Held up, headway halfway, led 4 out, headed next, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 16, 5l behind Laertes (11-2) at Newcastle 3m mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Phantom Major (FR) 200-1 (10-10) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, kept on from next, never nearer, 5th of 18, 30l behind Harmony Brig (11-10) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Ostfanni (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, shaken up approaching 2 out, ran on flat, 4th of 13, 7l behind The Market Man (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Nov.
Gardasee (GER) 8-11fav (11-1) Not jumped well, led, blundered badly 3 out, soon ridden, headed post, 2nd of 13, shd behind Livingonaknifedge (11-7) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Buffy 25-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 14, 14l behind Jontys'lass (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
