led, hit 12th, still slight lead and going okay when pulled up and dismounted 4 out
held up, steady headway 9th, chased leaders 13th, left 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, in command before next, stayed on strongly
in touch, weakened 10th, 6th and no chance when blundered 2 out
tracked leader, left in lead 4 out, headed next, chased winner but no impression until lost 2nd last, kept on again flat
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 11th, hit 13th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
chased leaders, badly hampered by pulled up rival approaching 4 out, stayed on to go 2nd last until no extra flat
held up, effort 5th, weakened after 14th
The Duckpond has a lengthy absence to overcome but if fit enough should go well, however we will side with Yes My Lord ahead of Fool On The Hill and Nykel. The selection was still in touch when falling last time out at Cheltenham and should go well today on ground that suits. He stays all day and goes well for today's jockey Timmy Murphy. The stable is in form and he should be fresh from a break of 113 days. The Duckpond won his only start over fences back in December 2005, but absent since he may just need today's run; he should be watched in the market. Nykel will need to forget his last run when pulled up, however with a better round of jumping today he should get involved. Fool On The Hill hasn't shown a lot in recent runs but with his stable in better form now, he could be in the shake-up. With the stable in good form warming up for Cheltenham, David Pipe's Yes My Lord gets the vote.
The Duckpond (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Jumped well, led 2nd, ridden flat, ran on, won at Warwick 3m nov chs (D) sft in Dec '05 beating Howrwenow (11-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
Green Belt Flyer (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Led, headed 5th, ridden and weakened after 7th, left 3rd 4 out, last of 5, well behind Madison Du Berlais (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Fool On The Hill 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, challenged for 3rd 15th, weakened 18th, 5th of 7, 39l behind Irish Raptor (11-8) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Nykel (FR) 10-3 (10-12) Prominent, blundered 16th and lost place, beaten when pulled up 4 out in race won by Maletton (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Harrycone Lewis 9-1 (11-1) Led until headed and ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 10l behind Just Beth (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Dec.
Yes My Lord (IRE) 4-1co-fav (10-5) Held up when fell at the 12th in race won by Darby Wall (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Miss Shakira (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened 12th, soon behind, 7th of 11, well behind Alphabetical (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
