held up in 4th, not fluent and ridden 11th, hung left from 4 out, chased winner 3 out, soon ridden and hung left, no impression from next
led to 3rd, chased winner, hit 10th and 12th, weakened into 4th when blundered 3 out
chased leading pair, mistake 7th, hit 12th, went 2nd 4 out until next, weakened after, tailed off
jumped well, led 3rd, made rest, well in command from 2 out, well clear before last, eased run-in
All four could win this but in a fascinating race it is KICKS FOR FREE who can lead them home. Officially rated as high as 150 over hurdles last season, the selection started a warm order for his chasing bow at Aintree. He disposed of the fair yardstick Coq Hardi with little fuss in an almost faultless display and sits fairly prominently in the betting for the Royal and SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in March. Along with Ring The Boss he has a penalty to carry, but he is good enough to shoulder it to victory. Ring The Boss was a very good hurdler and is not to be underestimated. He was brushed aside last time at Wincanton by Breedsbreeze, a stablemate of the selection, and he will need to eliminate any errors to feature today. Oh Crick gave the talented Afsoun a real race at Warwick last time out; he seems to be improving all the time and should have no problems with this longer trip. The Market Man completes the field; Nicky Henderson's horses are still running well and he wasn't beaten far behind Silverburn back in February. As he is yet to win over fences he receives weight all round but he does have a pulled up effort in the World Hurdle to get over. One of the best Novice Chases of the year and Kicks For Free can take it.
Kicks For Free (IRE) 4-6fav (11-2) Soon tracking leader, mistake 5th, led 2 out, easily, won at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Oct beating Coq Hardi (11-2) by 19l, 5 ran.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Led, mistake 12th and headed, led 13th, blundered 3 out, pecked 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Breedsbreeze (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft.
Oh Crick (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 7th, went 2nd after 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, led towards finish, headed last strides, 2nd of 6, hd behind Afsoun (11-1) at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gs.
The Market Man (NZ) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, pushed along before 7th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Inglis Drever (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
