tracked leaders, weakened before 2 out
tracked winner, led 5 out, not fluent 3 out, headed run-in, rallied and kept on towards finish
led, reminders after 9th, headed and hit 5 out, rallied to regain lead run-in, kept on gamely
in rear, weakened from 10th, tailed off
Unbeaten in a couple of starts over fences, EDMUND KEAN can defy a penalty and go in again. David Pipe's charge just got the better of The Romford Pele in testing ground at Ludlow last time despite unfavourable terms and should have too much for Bucking The Trend and Pinerolo. The former beat a subsequent winner when scoring at Fontwell in December and that looks stronger form than Pinerolo's victory at Catterick earlier this month. Strike Fast was thrown in at the deep-end in a Grade 2 event at Wetherby and should finish closer today without posing a threat.
Edmund Kean (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Made virtually all, joined 12th until after next, pressed 4 out, stayed on and 5 lengths clear last, ridden when idled towards finish, held on, won at Ludlow 3m nov chs (4) hvy beating The Romford Pele (11-0) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
Bucking The Trend 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, ridden 8th, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, led last, ran on, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Beforeall (10-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Pinerolo 13-8fav (10-8) Tracked leader, hit 6th, led before 3 out, clear approaching last, eased flat, won at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy beating Harris (10-8) by 22l, 5 ran.
Strike Fast (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, left in 3rd and last before 9th, no chance with front pair from 12th, continued tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Ely Brown (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) hvy.
