held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, left in 3rd approaching 2 out, never able to challenge
held up in rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off, modest 5th
led after 1st, headed 4 out, led again next, mistake 2 out, drew clear last, readily
led until after 1st, mistake next, led again 4 out, headed next, under pressure when stumbled and fell approaching 2 out
held up in touch, pushed along 3 out, left in 2nd approaching 2 out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on well closing stages, no chance with winner
chased leaders, lost place before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, weakened 5 out, tailed off, modest 4th
Groundunderrepair and MARTABOT are closely matched on these terms. The former has placed in both starts over hurdles so far and should go close again but a chance is taken on the latter. He ran fresh in testing ground at Ffos Las on his debut for David Pipe and first start since 2014 and not surprisingly faded badly in the closing stages. He should settle better today and could be in the mix at the finish. Mansion’s earlier sixth at Newbury came on faster going and is it was good ground when My Boy James finished closer at the same track but Welluptoscratch has disappointed since finishing second in maiden hurdle last year.
Champion Chase (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 4th, weakened after 3 out, mistake 2 out, 14th of 16, dist behind Glaring (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Clondaw Westie (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, last and struggling before 6th, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind The Caller (11-4) at Plumpton 2m mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Groundunderrepair (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Jerrysback (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) hvy in Jan.
Martabot (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 20 1/4l behind Robinshill (12-5) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Dec.
My Boy James (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd halfway until ridden over 2f out, weakened 2f out, 5th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Burbank (10-12) at Newbury 2m (5) gd in Nov.
Not Never 28-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway into mid-division 3 out, one pace when hampered next, soon weakened, last of 10, 29 1/2l behind High Bridge (11-12) at Newbury 2m (3) sft in Feb.
Welluptoscratch (FR) 6-1 (10-5) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 21l behind Another Venture (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Mansion (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, some headway 5th, soon weakened, pulled up after 2 out, at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
