made most until headed 7th, reminders after next, behind 11th, soon tailed off
held up in rear, reminders after 11th, pushed along and steady headway in 6th before 12th stayed on to dispute modest 3rd 2 out, no chance with leading duo, weakened after last
held up in rear, steady headway 10th, weakened 4 out
in touch, headway to chase leaders 12th, tracked leader going well 4 out, led 3 out, hung left and idled flat, always just doing enough
chased leaders, tracked leader 8th, led 15th, joined 4 out, narrowly headed next, stayed challenging under pressure, held last, closed as winner idled flat, always held
pressed leader, definite advantage 7th, joined 11th, headed 12th, chased leader until next, weakened 3 out
in touch, pushed along 7th, behind and struggling 11th, tailed off
chased leaders until lost place 10th, weakened and behind when pulled up before next
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 4th, pushed along 4 out, rallied to well held 3rd after last, no chance with leading duo
The 12-year-old Our Vic has run well over further in his last two starts and David Pipe's gelding may not be suited by being dropped in trip today in a contest that should go to Paul Nicholls, who saddles two runners in the race, with PASCO preferred to stable companion Big Fella Thanks. The eight-year-old was two lengths second when unseating Ruby Walsh two out at Kempton last month in the race won by Duc De Regniere and he has every chance under Barry Geraghty this afternoon but Walsh today is on Pasco, who finished tired on testing ground at Exeter last time and he should appreciate the better ground today. Battlecry has been running consistently well for Nigel Twiston-Davies of late and should be thereabouts again but is likely to have to settle for a place at best and of more interest may be Can't Buy Time. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding won well on his only start since October when successful at Cheltenham at the beginning of the year and he has every chance off just a 6lb higher mark today. Gary Moore's Panjo Bere also comes here having won last time but the race that he landed at Ascot did not seem to be that strong and he may struggle off his new mark with a better bet looking to be Pasco, who can resume winning ways.
Our Vic (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 4 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Silver By Nature (10-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Panjo Bere (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leading pair, headway and in touch when blundered 4 out, led before 2 out, soon ridden, headed narrowly last, rallied to regain lead near finish (no time taken), won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb beating I'msingingtheblues (11-12) by shd, 4 ran.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan beating Private Be (10-3) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Big Fella Thanks 3-1 (11-7) Chased leader, led 2nd until 4th, chased leader until 4 out and soon outpaced, rallied and disputing 3 lengths 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Duc De Regniere (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb, 5 ran.
Pasco (SWI) 11-10fav (11-7) Led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened and lost 2nd place flat, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Cornas (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f chs (2) sft in Dec.
Regal Heights (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Behind, reminders 9th, outpaced 5 out, 7th last, stayed on well flat, never nearer, 4th of 10, 11l behind Sa Suffit (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb.
Stan (NZ) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, tailed off from 12th, 8th of 12, well behind Can't Buy Time (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Battlecry 9-2 (11-2) Led, ridden when blundered 2 out, soon headed, 3 lengths down when mistake last, no extra, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Sa Suffit (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb.
Au Courant (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 1st, steady headway 12th, chasing leaders in 4th when blundered 4 out, pushed along and no real impression after, 4th of 15, 20l behind Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
