tracked leaders in 4th, driven before 3 out, went 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with impressive winner
jumped well, led to 4th, with leader, regained narrow lead 6th, drew clear on bit from 4 out, impressive
tracked leaders, outpaced in 4th before 4 out, stayed on into 3rd before last, no chance with front pair
keen early, soon pressed winner, led narrowly 4th to 6th, in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon no chance with winner, lost place 2 out, weakened before last
NonRunner
This will actually be ALTIOR’s first run over hurdles or fences outside of novice company but Nicky Henderson’s exciting prospect should prove up to the task. He has won all three starts over the larger obstacles with the minimum of fuss and is already a very short price for next month’s Arkle Chase having won the Supreme Novices’ at The Festival last year. Dodging Bullets won the Champion Chase in 2015 but has not scored since and was a well-beaten second in this last year behind Top Gamble. That one is trained by Kerry Lee who has Gino Trail in this year’s renewal, though he’s not in the same league as his stablemate. Fox Norton is much improved this season but has to give the selection 5lb courtesy of his victory in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in November, though is still preferred to the returning Traffic Fluide.
Fox Norton (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, 2nd before 3 out, led on home bend, went slightly left 2 out, clear last, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov beating Simply Ned (11-4) by 9l, 8 ran.
Altior (IRE) 1-9fav (11-8) Jumped well, tracked leading pair, 2nd 7th, led travelling well 3 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Dec beating Marracudja (11-8) by 18l, 4 ran.
Dodging Bullets 20-1 (11-7) Held up, closed after 4th, slow 10th, outpaced from 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, 23 3/4l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, progress to chase leaders before 2 out, stayed on strongly towards finish, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Un De Sceaux (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Gino Trail (IRE) 13-8fav (11-10) Jumped left, led, mistake 8th and last, driven and headed flat, held close home, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Zamdy Man (11-4) at Hereford 2m (4) sft in Jan.