led until after 1st, tracked leader, hit 2nd, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed soon after last, stayed on
held up in last pair, ridden 5th, well beaten 3 out
held up, not always fluent, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, took keen hold, steadied 4th, headway approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, led soon after last, ran on
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, pushed along before 3 out, outpaced from 2 out, no extra last
held up in last pair, headway 4th, led approaching 3 out, headed before next, stayed on flat
reluctant to race and reminder soon after start, headway to lead after 1st, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
Nonrunner
Runner-up Charm School has franked the form of Dream Esteem's win at Chepstow last month but the mare is 9lb higher now. Grams And Ounces was being aimed at Cheltenham but didn't have a high enough rating, despite running up a recent hat-trick. This is a marked step up in grade while Gibb River needs to bounce back from a below-par effort at Ascot back in December, though Barry Geraghty still prefers him to chaser Petit Robin. Tony Star would have place claims if back to his best and Topolski showed a glimpse of his old form in the National Spirit at Fontwell last month but the pick of the weights may be KANDARI. Runner-up to subsequent Cheltenham winner Attaglance at Market Rasen on his reappearance, he didn't quite get home over that 2m3f trip but is very interesting here back over 2m as he finished fifth in the 2009 County Hurdle off a 7lb higher mark.
Petit Robin (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 7th, chasing leaders when blundered badly and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Master Minded (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Jan '11, 9 ran.
Topolski (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in 6th, headway on outside when carried very wide on bend after 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon edging left, stayed on to 2nd before last, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Third Intention (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Gibb River (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, never on terms, last of 16, 20l behind Raya Star (10-1) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Dec.
Dream Esteem 6-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, in touch on inside, went 2nd after 4th, led approaching 3 out, 4 lengths clear last, ridden out final 100 yards, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating Charm School (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Grams And Ounces 5-6fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 6th, led 3 out, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan beating Alwaystheoptimist (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Tony Star (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Behind, mistake 2nd, headway on outside before 2 out, outpaced before last, no impression, 6th of 13, 21l behind Bally Legend (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Sacrilege 33-1 (11-12) Reminders after start, chased leaders, weakened after 6th, never on terms after, 5th of 9, 19l behind James Pollard (10-10) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Chesil Beach Boy 25-1 (10-3) In rear, headway on inner before 2 out, kept on flat, 5th of 24, 11l behind Paintball (10-7) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs.
Kandari (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, smooth headway from 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, blundered last, not quicken, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Attaglance (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
