prominent, led approaching 3rd, mistake 10th, ridden and headed 15th, weakened approaching last
held up, headway 12th, weakened 15th, jumped badly left 3 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, led 15th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, led again after 3 out, hit 2 out, edged left last, all out
held up, mistake 1st, behind when pulled up before 8th
led to 3rd, with leaders, mistake 12th, weakening when mistake next, behind when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, lost place 3rd, headway 11th, led approaching 4 out, ridden when hit 3 out, soon headed, every chance last, ran on
tracked leaders to 15th, soon weakened
behind, headway 6th, weakened 14th
held up, headway approaching 12th, weakening when mistake 4 out
prominent to 9, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
Paul Nicholls relies upon Were In Touch from three five-day entries and the hint is taken in a race where two other last time out winners Ile de Paris and Clever Thyne are rated the main dangers. Nicholls has wasted no time in putting Were In Touch over fences and, while it has taken him longer than expected to open his account, there was no doubting the quality of the performance that saw the son of Old Vic win at Taunton last month. The seven-year-old jumped like an old handicapper that day and is taken to make the most of what looks a favourable mark. Ile de Paris was made to work hard to beat the selection's stablemate Le Jaguar at Exeter last time and probably needs to improve again. Beau Supreme lost no caste in defeat behind the well -handicapped Tanterari at Taunton last month and is another to consider along with Michael Scudamore's Jordans Lad, who was a close second when falling behind Ibal at Leicester on Tuesday. Bak To Bill has been in good form all season but may now be in the grip of the handicapper and a bigger threat may come from Clever Thyne. Henry Daly's gelding stepped up on his reappearance effort when winning at Huntingdon last time and has to be respected off what would appear to be fair mark but Were In Touch looked one to keep on the right side of at Taunton and he gets the vote to follow up.
Lords Best (IRE) 7-1 Led, headed 4th, led again 8th, blundered and headed 14th, ridden and led again after 3 out, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Harrycone Lewis at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Cassia Heights 6-1 In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 10, 26l behind Zaffamore at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec.
Beau Supreme (IRE) 13-2 Pulled hard, prominent, ridden 4 out, led approaching 3 out, mistake and pecked last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Tanterari at Taunton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Feb.
Clever Thyne (IRE) 12-1 In touch, tracked leader 11th, left in lead 3 out, soon headed, led again approaching last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (E) gd in Jan beating Noble Baron by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ile de Paris (FR) 2-1jt-fav Made all, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, just held on, won at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (E) sft in Jan beating Le Jaguar by a shd, 9 ran.
King On The Run (IRE) 6-1 Led to 2nd, stayed prominent, hit 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 2nd of 8, well behind Jordans Lad at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Feb.
Bak To Bill 5-1 In touch, ridden to chase leaders 15th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 8l behind Harrycone Lewis at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Joint Authority (IRE) 10-1 Chased leaders, went 2nd 18th, joined winner 3 out, no impression soon after next, one pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Whitenzo at Sandown 3m chs (E) gd in Feb.
Jordans Lad (IRE) 7-2 Held up, mistake 1st, headway 6th, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, 2nd and 2 lengths down when fell in race won by Ibal at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) , 9 ran.
Maxie McDonald (IRE) 2-1fav Tracked leader, hit 9th, ridden 12th, weakened 15th, 3rd of 6, well behind Radcliffe at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Jan.
Were In Touch (IRE) 15-8fav In touch, headway after 10th to join leader, led 11th, blundered 13th, not fluent and ridden 3 out, stayed on well from last, won at Taunton 3m beg chs (D) gs in Feb beating Bob Ar Aghaidh by 3/4l, 10 ran.
