tracked leader, led after 5 out, hard ridden approaching last, kept on well under pressure
tracked leaders, under pressure before 4 out, effort 2 out, never able to challenge
chased leaders, led 4th, headed after 5 out, rallied last, stayed on strongly closing stages
led until 4th, weakened after 5 out, tailed off, moderate 4th
BRAVO RIQUET couldn't reproduce his chase form over hurdles at Uttoxeter last month but can bounce back over the larger obstacles here with his stable still firing on all cylinders. He has gone up 10lb since completing a double at Plumpton in January but still gets 4lb from narrow Ludlow scorer Kerryhead Storm. Gracchus runs over fences for the first time since September but still looks too high in the weights and Hopeand has finished tailed off in her last three races.
Kerryhead Storm (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, jumped left 2nd, led and jumped left 4th, soon headed, led again 7th, blundered 3 out, 1 length up and driven flat, held on, won at Ludlow 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb beating Sunny Ledgend (11-2) by nk, 9 ran.
Gracchus (USA) 25-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, ridden after 5th, some headway 3 out, 5th and no impression next, 5th of 11, 17l behind Jaunty Inflight (10-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Bravo Riquet (FR) 10-3 (9-13) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along after 5th, lost place well before 7th, 4th from 2 out, plugged on flat, 4th of 7, 11l behind Allez Vic (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
Hopeand 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leader until before 6th, mistake and lost place next, weakened 8th, 4th of 6, 50l behind Sands Cove (11-0) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Feb.
