led until mistake 9th, headed briefly, headed again 11th, ridden 3 out, rallied 2 out, took 2nd again flat
tracked leading pair, 2nd 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened last
tracked leader, led briefly 9th, led again 11th, ridden 2 out, ran on
keen tracking leading trio, close up when fell 11th
A small field but no less a punting conundrum with three of the four carrying the same BHA rating and the same weight, and we will just take TAROTINO to score from Soixante and Supreme Duke. The selection appears to have more scope for improvement after a commanding Doncaster win on similar going last time. He jumped and travelled well that day and got his chasing career back on track, and he can continue that upward curve. Supreme Duke was a comfortable five length scorer at Ludlow last time and the form of that race looks solid enough, with the runner-up coming out and going well again, but Soixante perhaps looks more appealing. Henrietta Knight's six-year-old beat subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Oh Crick at Hereford last time, and trip and ground are of no concern, so he probably has more to come. Cave Of The Giant needs to show a fair bit more than on his sole chasing start thus far if he is to get involved and Tarotino gets the vote.
Soixante (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, challenged approaching last, kept on, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Oh Crick (11-4) by 2l, 5 ran.
Supreme Duke (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 7th, led 13th, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Feb beating Haar (10-10) by 5l, 6 ran.
Tarotino (FR) 85-40fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 9th, clear approaching last, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Feb beating Bleak House (11-0) by 12l, 4 ran.
Cave of The Giant (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent and headed 1st, led 2nd until next, chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 6, 27l behind Midnight Chase (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
