tracked leaders, led after 4th, headed 8th, driven and outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up in touch, outpaced after 4 out, weakening when mistake next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, lost place and ridden after 4 out, weakened from next
in touch on outside, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching next, clear last, driven out flat
led to 4th, tracked leaders, effort 3 out, switched inside approaching next, ridden and kept on flat, always held
tracked leader, led briefly 4th, in touch, led 8th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before last
SEVENTH SKY has a 7lb rise to contend with after winning at Plumpton. But he finished well ahead of third-placed Azure Fly and gets the vote to go in again. Crazy Jack should have come on for a recent outing at Exeter and is not out of this while Black River was still going well when falling on his chasing bow at Newbury last season and can also figure with a clear round. Hurdles winner Viva Steve has shown little over fences so far and Viva Bob was never in contention despite finishing third at Chepstow in September.
Seventh Sky (GER) 13-2 (11-6) Jumped well, made all, pushed along and went left 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, in command when shaken up before last, stayed on well, won at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) gd in Oct beating Fergal Mael Duin (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Black River (FR) 6-4fav (11-1) Tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd before next, lost 3rd and no extra from last, 4th of 6, 19l behind Prideofthecastle (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Azure Fly (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Chased leading trio, went 2nd briefly 6th, mistake next, 3rd after 9th until hit 3 out, modest 3rd again before next, kept on same pace and no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Seventh Sky (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) gd in Oct.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led 6th, headed before next, not fluent 12th, losing place when jumped right and weakened 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Victors Serenade (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct, 15 ran.
Viva Steve (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, led until before 4th, stayed prominent, ridden 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 38l behind Buddy Bolero (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Comeback Colin 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leader until 4th, lost place 6th, not fluent next, behind from 8th, 6th of 7, well behind Sgt Reckless (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Crazy Jack (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, kept on before last, held by winner, 2nd of 17, 4 1/2l behind Hello George (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
