held up in last pair, dropped to rear when blundered and unseated rider 5th
tracked leaders in 5th out wide, plugged on in modest 4th from 8th, well held and no chance when hit 3 out
tracked (clear) winner until hit 6th, chased leaders, weakened rapidly tailed off in 5th when pulled up before 3 out
raced wide, waited with in rear, gained a place at 4th, headway out wide tracking leaders before 4 out, 3rd when hit next, ridden and went 2nd 2 out, never any chance with unchallenged winner
chased leaders on inside, hit 7th, hit next and weakened quickly, tailed off, left remote 5th before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 6th, driven along and no impression before 2 out, weakened into 3rd 2 out
made all set strong pace and soon clear, went left 3rd, slightly reduced lead before 3 out, came clear again before next, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
Nube Negra won this in 2020 and returned to action with victory in this grade at Cheltenham, though had little to beat. EDWARDSTONE could not have been more impressive in the Tingle Creek at Sandown earlier this month and Funambule Sivola appears to have little chance of reversing that form with Alan King’s top two-miler, who has won six of his last seven over fences and was runner-up in the other. The remainder are only handicappers and, with only seven declared runners, each-way options are limited.
Edwardstone 5-1 (11-10) Waited with in rear and always going well, hit 8th, and pecked, smooth headway tracking leaders 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, quickened to lead after next, soon clear, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec beating Greaneteen (11-10) by 9l, 6 ran.
Funambule Sivola (FR) 18-1 (11-10) Chased leaders out wide, pushed along before 3 out, carried left 3 out, soon outpaced and beaten, last of 6, 23l behind Edwardstone (11-10) at Sandown 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Mister Fisher (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, pushed along and outpaced home turn, well held when hit last, 4th of 7, 26 1/2l behind Pic D'Orhy (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec.
Nube Negra (SPA) 1-10fav (11-10) Jumped well, made all, clear from 2nd, unchallenged, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov beating Ganapathi (11-4) by 8l, 3 ran.
Sizing Pottsie (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, closed 3 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 9th of 13, 27 3/4l behind Romeo Brown (10-8) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Dolos (FR) 17-2 (10-6) Chased winner, pushed along before 4 out, no impression last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Greaneteen (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Editeur Du Gite (FR) 6-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd after last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 7, 12 3/4l behind Dads Lad (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
