led, headed after 1st, led again 4th, headed 7th, ridden 13th, weakened next, mistake 3 out, jumped left 2 out
mid-division, led 11th, headed 15th, weakening when blundered 3 out
held up, lost place 12th
held up, ridden and lost touch 12th, pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, weakened 3 out
held up, headway after 13th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last
held up, headway 12th, ridden to lead 3 out, headed last and faded
held up, headway 12th, ridden and hit 3 out, led last, all out and headed line
tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 11th, ridden 12th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden and headway 13th, kept on when hung right and not fluent last, kept on to lead line
keen, led after 1st, headed 4th, led again 7th, headed 9th, mistake when weakening 13th
Down's Folly gets the vote in a competitive contest in which Commemoration Day and Bonchester Bridge are others of keen interest. The selection showed a consistent level of form over hurdles, winning twice, and has finished in the frame on all three chase starts. The handicapper hasn't exactly been lenient (he has something to find with Leopold at the weights on their running in December) but he looks sure to have been well primed to have a crack at this prize and his yard seem to have turned a corner. Commemoration Day has just his second chase start and his first for a new yard, market support for this talented dual purpose performer would be of interest. Bonchester Bridge is also unexposed over fences having won her second start in this sphere over course and distance in facile fashion but this is tougher and it's hard to assess the value of that form. Charlie Poste's claim improves Marked Man's chances as he looks high enough in the weights whilst Basic Fact and Comber also enter calculations but Down's Folly may prove to be the answer.
Jarro (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed 4 out, rallied approaching last, kept on flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Livingonaknifedge (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Marked Man (IRE) 4-1co-fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Herecomestanley (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Tighe Caster 40-1 (11-1) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Lampion Du Bost (9-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 22 ran.
Bonchester Bridge 5-2 (10-7) Held up, headway on bit approaching 4 out, soon led, clear last, readily, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Jan beating Pseudonym (11-0) by 12l, 5 ran.
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) In rear, not fluent 4th, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Nevertika (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Jan, 11 ran.
Down's Folly (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Keen, held up in touch, ridden to lead 2 out, headed next, one pace, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Sheriff Roscoe (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Commemoration Day (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) In rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind Prestbury Knight (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jul.
Basic Fact (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway 11th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden to lead after last, all out, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec beating Mandingo Chief (11-1) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Leopold (SLO) 14-1 (10-5) Towards rear, mistake 4 out, stayed on flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Yann's (10-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Comber (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced 10th, headway 3 out, kept on no impression, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Pasagai (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Dec.
Lyon 50-1 (10-6) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, ridden and no headway from 7th, 7th of 16, 24l behind Joe Brown (11-3) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
