made all, took keen hold, clear before 2nd until after 6th, pressed briefly 3 out, not fluent 2 out, shaken up before last, soon clear again, easily
jumped right in last, not fluent 6th, well behind when not fluent 9th
chased winner, pushed along after 4 out, challenged briefly 3 out, no impression before last
Iceo, 3-7 over hurdles, won a Grade 3 over the smaller obstacles at Sandown in March. He will likely win plenty over fences and will handle today’s going but is conceding a massive 17lb to MOUNT TEMPEST, who is also a mud-lover and is only rated 15lb lower than the top weight over timber. Timeforatune is another promising recruit to the chasing ranks but he has no experience on ground this soft.
Iceo (FR) 6-4fav (11-9) Held up in 6th, smooth headway out wide before 2 out, modest 3rd and mistake last, run flattened out run-in and soon lost 2nd, 4th of 8, 12l behind Crebilly (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Timeforatune 11-10fav (11-7) Handy, shaken up and pressed leader 2 out, led narrowly approaching last, ridden and drifted left run-in, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec beating Tightenourbelts (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Mount Tempest (IRE) 5-6fav (12-0) In touch, headway to join leaders after 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, not fluent and weakened quickly 2 out, 3rd of 9, dist behind Manorbank (11-2) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Apr.
