led to 5th, remained handy, beaten approaching 4 out, stayed on approaching last, no danger
held up in rear, headway 9th, mistake 10th, not fluent 5 out, soon beaten, blundered 4 out
chased leader, led 5th, blundered 11th, soon headed, stayed pressing leaders until 4 out, weakened from 3 out
in touch, not fluent and lost place 5th, jumped slowly next (water), behind from 8th, tailed off
held up, ridden and beaten after 5 out, badly hampered and unseated rider 4 out
took keen hold, soon steadied towards rear, niggled along 11th, ridden and beaten 5th out, fell 4 out
mid-division, went 3rd after 3 out, not on terms with leading duo, stayed on flat
held up, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, headway 10th, beaten 5 out, tailed off
alwat prominent, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, idled flat, driven out
chased leaders, led after 11th, not fluent and headed 2 out, ridden and still every chance last, stayed on same pace flat, always held
Maljimar has leading claims but is likely to be short enough so we'll take a chance with Natal who's marginally preferred to Milan Deux Mille. Natal shouldn't be underestimated as he has a fine strike rate over fences and doesn't looked to be badly handicapped at all. His form this year's been a bit of a mixed bag but he looked as though he could be on his way back at Sandown last time. This is the first time this season that he's had his ideal conditions and he's worth chancing providing the price is right. Maljimar and Milan Deux Mille both look to have been aimed at this race. The former is a progressive chaser who's been hit by a rise of a stone for his Cheltenham win but that looks perfectly reasonable and he should run a big race. Nacarat was a warm order for that Cheltenham race and isn't dismissed but needs to bounce back whilst Nevertika is a smart sort but the inexperienced novice may find this coming too soon in his career. Milan Deux Mille's form this season hasn't been anything to write home about but he was a progressive chaser last season and his yard have dominated this race; we expect him to go close but prefer Natal.
Ollie Magern 10-1 (11-10) Led until 3rd, tracked winner, led 10th until 14th, soon ridden, no chance with winner from next, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, finished tired, last of 4, well behind Denman (11-10) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Regal Heights (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, struggling 11th and lost place, stayed on again from 4 out, went left 3 out, took 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 20l behind Denman (11-10) at Newbury 3m chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Mister McGoldrick 8-1 (11-12) Led until blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by Bagan (10-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Kalca Mome (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Always behind, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Bring Me Sunshine (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Maljimar (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway after 11th, blundered 4 out, led after 3 out, soon clear, readily, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan beating Burntoakboy (10-0) by 11l, 11 ran.
Nevertika (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Behind, headway 8th, led approaching 3 out, clear 2 out, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Jan beating King Louis (11-4) by 6l, 11 ran.
Oneway (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, led 1st, headed 8th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 20l behind Howle Hill (11-4) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Feb.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 13-8 (11-4) Held up, headway 7th to track leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 4th of 16, 26l behind Forest Pennant (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Natal (FR) 7-2fav (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, headway 8th, ridden after 3 out, every chance last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Vinmix De Bessy (10-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.
Nacarat (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led 5th until next, hit 13 and 14th, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Maljimar (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Bagan (FR) 7-1 (10-5) Always behind, under pressure 10th and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Gungadu (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb, 15 ran.
