not fluent, held up, driven after 8th, headway after 4 out, ridden and not much room 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no extra towards finish
held up, headway 4 out, led 3 out, ridden out
chased leaders, challenged after 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, ridden and losing place when not much room after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden after 4 out, jumped left and headed 3 out, jumped left final 2, weakened flat
chased leader, ridden and every chance 3 out, slightly outpaced from 2 out, stayed on after last, took 2nd post
chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened
held up, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, brief effort on outside after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in touch, lost place after 6th, behind from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Preference is for Beau Supreme in the opening novice hurdle, with Secured and Adventurist the likely main dangers. Beau Supreme has been handicap chasing with some degree of success including over this course and distance last March. He is still a novice over hurdles but has Richard Johnson in the saddle and he should prove too good for these despite being pulled up last time. Secured and Adventurist fought out the finish of a fast-ground novice hurdle around this course in January. Secured had a short-head advantage that day and so there will no doubt be little between the pair again, but neither are proven over this longer trip and our selection will remain Beau Supreme.
Adventurist 25-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 20, 27l behind Material World (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Lyes Green 9-2 (11-4) Held up, headway5th, weakened 4 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Alfasonic (10-12) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Secured (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always prominent, led after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Jan beating Adventurist (10-12) by a shd, 15 ran.
Youlbesolucky (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened well before 2 out, 8th of 17, 18l behind Killaghy Castle (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft.
Beau Supreme (IRE) 9-2co-fav (11-4) Held up in touch, blundered and lost place 9th, blundered 13th, tailed and pulled up 5 out in race won by Eurotrek (11-5) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Darn Good 20-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, well behind Adventurist (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gf in Feb.
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Aces Four (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
William Butler (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Join leaders 3rd, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when hit last, 4th of 8, 14l behind Dream Alliance (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.