made all, challenged 3 out, pressed when left clear 2 out, eased towards finish
held up in touch, ridden before 3 out, left a remote 2nd 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 12th challenged 3 out, upsides winner when pecked and unseated rider 2 out
tracked winner until blundered 12th, one pace from 3 out
in rear, ridden and weakened before 3 out
There is little between the penalised pair ART MAURESQUE and Cash And Go on today's terms. But Paul Nicholls' charge has won over these fences before and scored at Taunton last time. He can get the better of Cash And Go, who beat lower rated horses at Towcester before unseating at Aintree. Billy Merriott and Frampton are winners over hurdles and have a chance at the weights if taking to the larger obstacles but Halling's Wish has been well beaten on both starts over timber this year.
Art Mauresque (FR) 8-15fav (11-5) Made all, soon 4 lengths clear, unchallenged, eased run in, won at Taunton 2m nov chs (4) gf in Apr beating Minella Present (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 3 ran.
Cash And Go (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, jumped right, led 1st until before 2nd, not fluent 4th, lost place next, mistake and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Clarcam (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gs in Apr, 6 ran.
Billy Merriott (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Held up in last pair, short-lived effort before 2 out, soon beaten, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Top Of The Range (11-10) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar '13.
Frampton (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Led, joined 2 out, kept slight advantage until headed after the last, not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Ar Mad (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Halling's Wish 11-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear and keen, pushed along and chasing leaders when fell 2 out, in a race won by Kublai (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
