tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat, never quite able to challenge
took keen hold, tracked winner untl before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, lost place 5th, last when not fluent next, well behind from 7th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, went 3rd when hit 3 out, no impression from next, 4th and one pace before last
made all, ridden after 3 out, stayed on gamely, held on well
held up in rear, pushed along and outpaced 7th, soon lost touch
held up in rear, 5th and in touch 4 out, closed when jumped right next, went 3rd 2 out, unable to get on terms, stayed on same pace
Barry Geraghty's presence on Sands Cove takes the eye and the recent Newbury runner-up should be in the mix. However, Un Anjou may handle today's fast ground better and he's preferred. David Dennis sent out the latter to finish a close-up second at Market Rasen last time but had earlier finished third behind THE LAST NIGHT, who gets the nod. Emma Lavelle's charge made a winning chase debut at Leicester with a couple of subsequent winners behind and there should be plenty more to come from him. Vision Des Champs has a shout if back to his best but Benny The Swinger is facing a tough task upped in class.
Sands Cove (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Chased leading pair, ridden and went 2nd 3 out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Prince Of Dreams (11-12) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Vision Des Champs (FR) 33-1 (10-8) Pulled hard, disputed lead until 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 37l behind Manyriverstocross (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Overclear 5-1 (11-11) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led 4 out, ridden and headed just before 3 out, held next, beaten when blundered badly last, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Le Bacardy (11-11) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Un Anjou (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, closed 7th, challenging when not fluent 2 out (normal 3 out), led before last (normal 2 out), headed and stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Tayarat (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
The Last Night (FR) 3-1 (11-8) Made virtually all, mistake 1st, ridden after 3 out, 5 lengths clear last, hung left towards finish, just held on, won at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Dec beating Fitandproperjob (9-9) by hd, 5 ran.
Marcus Antonius 25-1 (10-13) Last pair, pushed along after 4th, never on terms, tailed off 2 out (normal 3 out), pulled up before last, in a race won by No Buts (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Jan, 7 ran.
Benny The Swinger (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Sometimes jumped right, mistake 1st, behind, mistake 3 out, headway and travelling ok on heels of leaders when went badly right and blundered 3 out, no chance after, 6th of 8, 14l behind The Informant (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.