made all, blundered 7th, quickened clear and mistake 2 out, held on well, driven out
tracked winner, challenged when hit 3 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd place last, kept on towards finish
held up in touch in 4th, weakened after 5 out, mistake next, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders in 3rd, raced wide, ridden after 5 out, went 2nd last, kept on towards finish, always held
held up towards rear, blundered 6th, not fluent 8th, weakened from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, blundered badly 3rd, weakened from 5 out, never dangerous
Captain Americo has experience over fences but his form doesn't amount to much while Negus De Beaumont, five times a winning hurdler, hasn't taken to the bigger obstacles. Almond Court has shown nothing but Steady Tiger, who has had an interrupted career and hasn't been seen since April 2009, is likely to be ready for this as he's always promised to do well over fences. His stablemate, Mister Marker, progressed really well over timber last season winning three handicaps and can be forgiven his weak effort on his chasing debut as he made a serious error at halfway. DOVE HILL won two points in Ireland, though he was disqualified from the first, before joining Howard Johnson. He didn't have much to do when beating three rivals at Cartmel in heavy going in November but relished the conditions and chasing will be his game.
Captain Americo (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Towards rear, struggling 8th, never near leaders, 8th of 18, 38l behind Grands Crus (10-10) at Haydock 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Dove Hill (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders and keen early, pushed along and outpaced before 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, hit next, kept on and hung left run-in, led towards finish, won at Carlisle 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov beating Bally Wall (10-12) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Mister Marker (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 10th, weakened from 12th, 7th of 13, 45l behind Alvarado (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Oct.
Negus de Beaumont (FR) 12-1 (11-2) In rear, pushed along and behind 4th, reminders after 6th, tailed off 10th, pulled up after, in a race won by Predictive (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Steady Tiger (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway when not fluent 4 out, effort on outside next, outpaced 2 out, no impression when left 4th last, 4th of 6, 26l behind Zemsky (11-3) at Perth 3m nov hdl (2) gd in Apr '09.
Almond Court (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Prominent, weakened approaching 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Along Came Rosie (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
