reluctant never travelled in rear and hung left most of way, ridden along throughout, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, kept on well flat, went 4th final 50 yards and closed on one pace 3rd close home
held up towards rearridden along 8th, some headway before 11th, ridden and weakened soon after 4 out
took keen hold, in touch, blundered badly and lost place 7th, rallied to go in touch again 10th, weakened next, soon behind, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 10th, stumbled badly next, ridden and blundered 4 out, went modest 5th 2 out, weakened flat
held up until headway to chase leaders 2nd, dived at 6th, chased winner 11th until hit 2 out, ridden and no impression when went right and lost 3rd last, weakened flat
chased leaders, went right and chased leader 2 out, no impression and well held before when went right last
jumped right, led until jumped slowly and headed 6th, chased winner blunderd 9th, blundered badly and lost 2nd 11th, not recover and weakened 3 out
in touch until lost place on inside and dropped to rear 11th, headway approaching 4 out, went 4th and hit next, stayed on to modest 3rd last
chased leader, led 6th, made rest, went right 9th, hit 2 out, came readily clear soon after, easily
Rimini won over C&D in December but appears to have gone off the boil lately. Gus Macrae and Our Bob have disappointed over fences so far while Mallusk also has a bit to prove now having run no sort of race when pulled up at Kempton in January. Cottage Acre should improve for the switch to fences, however, while Lordsbridge is usually thereabouts though has spurned easier opportunities in the past. Special Occasion and In The Zone may have too much weight so we'll give another chance to KACK HANDED, who ran well against more experienced opposition at Doncaster in January and is a consistent sort on the whole.
Special Occasion 14-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, remote 4th after 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 10, 28l behind Qozak (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (4) gs in Feb.
In The Zone (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, ridden in modest 9th after 12th, modest 6th as field came into view final 110 yards, 6th of 15, 20l behind Misstree Dancer (11-3) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, chased clear leader until before 2nd, dropped to rear, headway when blundered 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 25l behind Tail Of The Bank (11-0) at Chepstow 2m beg chase (4) sft in Feb.
Mallusk (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Mid-division, mistake and lost place 3rd, soon behind, struggling when mistake 9th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Rear Gunner (11-8) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Our Bob (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Raced in rear, mistake 2nd, weakening when blundered 10th, soon beaten, 8th of 11, well behind Coup Royale (10-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Rimini (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, chased winner after 3 out until 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 28l behind Marodima (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Kack Handed 4-1 (10-12) Led, jumped right 2nd, hit 6th, headed 7th, went 3rd before last, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Sagalyrique (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jan.
Lordsbridge (USA) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, jumped left 2nd, mistake 8th, went 2nd approaching 4 out, every chance 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Betabob (10-5) at Leicester 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Cottage Acre (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Towards rear on inside, headway on inside after 3 out, close 4th 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 13, 20l behind Old Way (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
