chased leading trio, went 3rd after 5th until next, hit 8th, ridden and weakened before 4 out
took keen hold, chased leading pair, went 2nd after 5th, challenged and went left 3 out, hung right before next, led soon after 2 out, hung right flat, stayed on
always in last trio, reminders and struggling after 6th, mistake 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off
chased leader until after 5th, weakened rapidly, soon behind, struggling when hit 7th, tailed off 9th
held up in last trio, headway 6th, travelling well when mistake 9th, ridden in 5th soon after, one pace in 4th and no impression when went left 3 out, plugged on one pace
in rear, pushed along after 5th, ridden and struggling before 8th, tailed off next, pulled up before 4 out
led, joined 3 out, narrow lead when blundered next and headed soon after, stayed on same pace from last
sweating, chased leading trio, went 3rd 6th, ridden after 9th, hit 4 out, one pace and no impression next
Rileyev attempts to follow up his win at Hereford on Monday under a penalty but Venetia Williams' six-year-old had taken nine attempts to get off the mark over fences and may not be as progressive as you would expect. Jeczmien has won at Folkestone and Taunton since the turn of the year but is probably worth taking on off this much higher mark, while Papradon returns from a break and seems to prefer a quicker surface. GOLDEN DUCK may be an 11-year-old but is very lightly-raced for his age and only 2lb higher than when just caught over 2m3f at Taunton last month. A drop in distance could suit Nick Williams' gelding, who is fancied to return to winning ways here. Trooper Clarence won over hurdles in the French Provinces and his recent fourth at Ffos Las suggests he has a future over fences so he could provide the main danger to the selection.
Jeczmien (POL) 11-2 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 4 out, challenged 3 out, soon clear ran on strongly, won at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating The Darling Boy (11-0) by 11l, 6 ran.
Golden Duck (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, led approaching 8th, mistake next, headed 10th, rallied to lead again last, headed and no extra close home, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Magic Marmalade (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 28-1 (10-3) Prominent, lost place and ridden 12th, behind after next, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Peplum (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Poseidon's Secret (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Blunderd 1st, held up, headway to go in touch 4th, 5th when slow 6th and next, soon lost place under pressure, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Plein Pouvoir (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Trooper Clarence 22-1 (11-3) Pulled hard in touch, headway 6th, mistake 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 10l behind Oscar Gogo (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Held up, headway on outside 3rd, hit 7th, weakened after next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Baseball Ted (11-10) at Leicester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Papradon 4-1 (11-0) Not fluent 1st, tracked leader until after 2nd, chased front pair after, ridden after 9th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance when mistake last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Pistolet Dove (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Rileyev (FR) 11-10fav (11-9) Prominent, mostly chased leader before 3rd, not fluent 5th, blundered 7th, hit 3 out, led and not fluent last, driven on long run from last, stayed on well, won at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy beating Catholic Hill (10-10) by 2l, 5 ran.
