prominent, every chance 4 out, 3rd and weakening when blundered badly and unseated rider 2 out
held up, soon in touch, outpaced after 8th, left 4th 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, ridden 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression
led until 5th, led 4 out until ridden and edged left before 2 out, no extra when lost 2nd flat
pressed leader, led 5th until ridden 4 out, led approaching 2 out, idled flat, stayed on
took keen hold in rear, not fluent 1st, reminders after 7th, not fluent and weakened 8th, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered 1st, headway 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Jardin De Vienne ran better than was expected on only his second start over fences last month when sixth, beaten 18 lengths behind Moulin De La Croix, at Plumpton and he has to be respected off a 3lb lower mark today but a better bet looks to be DEVILS RIVER, who is preferred to Tooka. Tony Middleton's gelding has shown improved form in his last couple of starts, latterly when chasing home The Thirsty Bricky at Towcester last month, and he has every chance racing off the same mark today. Oliver Sherwood's French import Champtho made a winning start in the UK when landing a maiden hurdle at Plumpton in November and he could be of interest on his chasing debut off what seems a fair mark on only his sixth career outing. John Mackie's Cordier looked beaten before falling at the last at Catterick when last seen in December but is better than he showed that day and he makes more appeal than Andrew Turnell's Finnish Melody, who got no further than the third fence on his chasing debut last month. The selection then goes the way of the Anna Brooks-trained Devils River, who was beaten by the narrowest of margins when second to Moulin De La Croix over course and distance last month and he can go one better today off just a 4lb higher mark
Champtho (FR) 40-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, weakened last, 7th of 11, 40l behind La Sarrazine (10-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Cordier 13-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, prominent when blundered 5th, weakened from 3 out, fell last, in a race won by Blacks Bridge (11-6) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Jardin De Vienne (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Held up, in rear, headway 5th, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 19l behind Moulin De La Croix (10-8) at Leicester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Devils River (IRE) 15-2 (10-4) Led until 8th, remained pressing, led 2 out, soon ridden, edged left flat, headed post, 2nd of 10, ns behind Moulin De La Croix (10-8) at Leicester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Tooka 7-1 (11-7) With leader, led 4th to 5th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, stayed on to lead near finish, headed last strides, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind The Thirsty Bricky (11-12) at Towcester 2m hcp ch 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Finnish Melody 25-1 (10-4) Mid-division, fell 3rd, in a race won by Star Galaxy (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
New Wish (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Behind, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Shadrack (10-12) at Catterick 2m sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
