chased leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, driven after 2 out, no extra before last
mistakes, held up, mistake 4th, lost touch before 11th, no chance when blundered and fell 4 out
chased winner, took narrow lead 9th, hit 11th, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed challenging, close enough and ridden last, weakened flat
chased leaders, staying on to dispute well held 3rd, hit last
led, hit 8th, narrowly headed next, stayed challenging, hit 4 out, wandered under pressure and hit last, drew clear flat
Fit To Drive deserves to get her head in front having not been out of the first two in her last three starts but there is a suspicion that Brendan Powell's mare is in the grip of the handicapper following her win at Leicester and preference is for SCHIEHALLION, who gets the verdict with Oh Braga rated the best of the rest. The selection has shown some promise over hurdles but no makes his chasing debut off what seems a fair mark and being bred and built for the larger obstacles, Nicky Henderson's gelding looks worth chancing. Hill Forts Timmy has struggled against the handicapper over hurdles and has yet to convince in three starts over fences so looks best watched, while Colin Tizzard's Amble Forge has rather harshly been raised 9lbs since his win under testing conditions at Warwick and now looks too high in the weights. Tom George's Oh Braga is less exposed than most of these after just six career starts and the yard's runners are beginning to hit form again so he has to be respected but it is Schiehallion that gets the vote.
Hill Forts Timmy 50-1 (10-9) Reared, ridden and blundered 10th, hit 4 out, 6th and well beaten when fell 3 out in race won by Planet of Sound (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Schiehallion (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) In touch, mistake 5th, weakening when jumped left 2 out, 8th of 21, 31l behind Cracboumwiz (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Fit To Drive 14-1 (11-4) Led, clear 6th, ridden 2 out, joined last, headed soon after, kept on under pressure flat, always held, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Jaunty Flight (10-5) at Newbury 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) sft in Jan.
Amble Forge (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, chased leading pair approaching 3 out, soon weakened, jumped left last, 3rd of 8, 27l behind The Vicar (11-4) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs (2) hvy.
Oh Braga (FR) 13-2 (10-6) Tracked leader, mistakes 9th and 13th, joined leader next, every chance when hampered 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up 3 out in race won by Appleaday (11-1) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (3) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
