tracked leader, challenged 4 out, blundered badly next, led last, driven out
tracked leaders, lost place from 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, went 3rd from last, kept on
towards rear, fell 3rd
behind, headway 5 out to chase leaders, weakened before last
led, ridden and headed last, every chance run-in, kept on
tracked leaders in 3rd, outpaced 8th, soon pushed along and never dangerous
Emperor Commodos ran well at Lingfield last month but didn’t follow that up at Uttoxeter. Vital Evidence won twice on the Flat but has struggled to get his head in front over hurdles and fences and fell when favourite at Doncaster when last seen. Fieldsofsilk was badly hampered at Hereford last time so maybe worth another chance but UPSANDDOWNS may just have needed his run at Sandown last month and is given one final chance. He has won around here over hurdles and been placed four times over the larger obstacles so is not without ability. Un Anjou looks the pick of the remainder.
Truckers Highway (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leader until ridden approaching 8th, outpaced next, weakened before 2 out, last of 4, 37l behind Colin's Brother (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Upsanddowns (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked winner until blundered and lost 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 5th of 7, 20 1/4l behind Back By Midnight (10-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Un Anjou (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Prominent, disputed lead after 8th, led next, headed after 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 6th of 10, 31l behind Future Gilded (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Vital Evidence (USA) 10-3fav (10-6) Not fluent, tracked leaders until fell 5th, at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Emperor Commodos 8-1 (11-5) Jumped right, prominent, led 4th, headed 8th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next, at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Fingers Crossed (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) In rear and soon outpaced, struggling from halfway, last of 6, dist behind Baraza (11-9) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Fieldsofsilk (IRE) 2-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, badly hampered and lost place 2nd, closed 4th, mistake 7th, soon ridden, not fluent and last 4 out, weakened from next, 4th of 5, 24l behind Lake Chapala (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
