raced wide, chased leading pair, struggling after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led until headed 7th, soon driven along, lost 2nd 4 out, soon struggling, kept on to press for 2nd flat, no chance with winner
tracked leading pair, chased winner 4 out, no chance after next, finished tired
tracked leader, led 7th, drew clear after 3 out, easily
Nonrunner
Rouge Et Blanc should have the talent to win this after the form from his UK debut has work out really well but with Oliver Sherwood's charge failing to repeat that since we instead prefer RINCE DONN in this handicap chase while Ede's could be over priced if returning fit and well from a break. The selection's only poor performance recently was when he pulled up over a trip that stretched him and he proved to still be in good heart with a head defeat last time. He's up five pounds fro that run which seems fair enough and he has a very likeable attitude. It's Rouge Et Blancs run in a maiden hurdle when just a neck behind the classy Trenchant that gives him every chance of running well off this mark. He was expected to go well last time but fell on that chasing bow and that leaves enough of a nagging doubt. Ede's hasn't had much racing recently but was on a spot of form when last putting several runs together. He won his last chase start when eight pounds better off and although his first run back after over 500 days when taking to the level at Kempton was poor he has a chance now back jumping fences. Sumdancer has to be considered here after his runner's-up performance last time as he races off the same mark but there were plenty of positives coming out of Rince Donn's last start and he gets the verdict.
Rouge Et Blanc (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) Held up, weakening when fell 4 out, in a race won by Green Belt Elite (11-10) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Sole Agent (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, hit 5th, lost place and ridden 7th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Moulin De La Croix (10-8) at Leicester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
Rince Donn (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up, in touch, headway to go 2nd after 6th, led 4 out, headed after 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on strongly, 2nd of 14, hd behind Star Galaxy (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Sumdancer (NZ) 16-1 (11-2) Always prominent, ridden and every chance between last 2, 1 length down when hit last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind The Hardy Boy (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Meneur (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Always in rear, mistake 3rd, weakened and eased from 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, 50l behind Pret A Thou (11-1) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Feb.
Ede's 6-4fav (9-12) Chased leaders, led 4 out, jumped right 2 out, ran on from last, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in May '08 beating Oldrik (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
