prominent, not fluent 1st, mistake and lost place and reninders 4th, weakened after 5 out, mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
held up, mistake 7th, soon went 4th, jumped right 4 out, led on bit 2 out, soon clear, easily
tracked leader, every chance 2 out, weakened flat
in rear, mistake 2nd, headway 4th, lost place when mistake 7th, lost touch from 9th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, every chance when mistake 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat
led, hit 1st, ridden and headed 2 out, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace
held up, fell 2nd
Cheney Manor wasn't travelling with any purpose when unseating his rider in a maiden chase at Folkestone last time and clearly isn't one of the stars at Nicky Henderson's stable. Amirico still has a bit to prove but Artic Wings is potentially well handicapped, though has only had one run over fences and didn't impress. Shammick Boy was lucky to win at Exeter in November, though has been quite highly tried since, and Pepite Rose carries a penalty for last month's win at Bangor though the mare still looks the danger to BACK BOB BACK. An easy winner over C&D in the autumn, he was taken off his feet over a shorter trip at Warwick last time having struggled on heavy ground at Uttoxeter the time before and looks a better bet than stablemate Be Definite at the weights.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up, headway to chase winner 5th until mistake 9th, blundered next, soon 4th and no impression, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Sanctuaire (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (4) gs in Jan.
Pepite Rose (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Held up, headway after 3rd, led approaching 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb beating Fishoutofwater (11-12) by 12l, 9 ran.
Cheney Manor 9-4 (11-0) Chased leading pair, mistake 3rd, hit 7th, jumped slowly 9th and ridden, dropped to 5th when mistake and unseated rider next, in a race won by The Black Baron (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn chs (5) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, chasing leaders when blundered next, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 19l behind Big Easy (10-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Be Definite (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th until 7th, mistake and lost 3rd next, ridden before 10th, went right 3 out, stayed on to modest 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Trenchant (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 4f beg chase (5) sft in Jan.
Back Bob Back (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, not fluent and went 2nd 8th, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 8, 24l behind Marodima (10-13) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Amirico (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) With leader, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 33l behind Top Smart (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Feb.