held up in rear, mistake 3rd, well beaten after 4 out
took keen hold, in touch in mid-division, mistake 5th, mistake and lost place next, last when not fluent 7th, pulled up before 8th
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, challenged 10th, held flat, stayed on close home
prominent, hit 9th, outpaced after 4 out, weakened next
jumped right, led until 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led 10th, in command flat, idled close home
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden in 4th after 4 out, no impression 2 out
held up towards rear, closed 10th, hit next, 5th and well held 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 9th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, 3rd and ridden after 4 out, held last, stayed on towards finish
Roudoudou Ville was barely extended in winning by 15 lengths at Chepstow on his latest start and is clearly improving at a rate of knots. But Victor Dartnall's six-year-old has been put up 18lb since and is tackling much better opposition here. Tartan Snow's jumping will be put under pressure in this but there are possibilities about King Edmund, who is gradually coming down the weights again, and Safari Adventures. Lucinda Russell's gelding was pulled up in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on his latest start but his earlier form in decent company stands up to scrutiny. DOOR BOY was also pulled up in the Racing Post Chase but showed a glimpse of his old form when third to Watch My Back at Ayr last time and can confirm that running with fourth Premier Dane. Howard Johnson's charge gets the vote here with the ground back in his favour.
Songe (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, jumped right 6th, lost place when mistake 8th, behind when jumped right 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Divers (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
King Edmund 11-4 (11-12) With leader, led approaching 6th, ridden and headed before 3 out, left 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Russian Flag (11-8) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Roudoudou Ville (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Pressed leader, led 9th, headed after 11th, led again before 5 out, clear next, very easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Ready Or Not (10-11) by 15l, 5 ran.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Mid-division, blundered 8th, headway 12th, effort before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 30, 27l behind Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Led, set strong pace, headed 12th, pushed along next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up last, in a race won by Quinz (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Door Boy (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, challenged from 4 out, led 2 out, headed before and not fluent last last, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Watch My Back (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd.
Storymaker 8-1 (11-8) In touch, progress 14th, ridden 3 out, challenged to lead last, driven and headed post, 2nd of 8, nk behind Go Silver Bullet (10-12) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf.
Tartan Snow 13-2 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led run-in, ran on well, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar beating My Moment (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tom's Toybox 13-2 (10-8) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 6th of 13, 24l behind Bogside (11-5) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Premier Dane (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, led after 8th, clear before 9th, headed 6 out, outpaced 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 10, 10l behind Watch My Back (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd.
