jumped left 1st, made all, hit 4 out, in command before 2 out, shaken up after last, eased final 50 yards
held up in rear, headway to track leading pair before 3 out, ridden soon after, beaten when jumped left 2 out
tracked leaders in 4th, mistake 1st, reminders and no response before 4 out, soon tailed off, blundered last
in touch, mistake 4th, weakened before 4 out, soon tailed off
chased leaders, reminder after 7th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out
jumped right 1st, chased winner until mistake 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
Nonrunner
Netherley gets the confident vote here with Giveusaclue the one to chase him home. The selection won well on his recent reappearance over course and distance back in December and should be fresh after his mini-break since. Venetia Williams has her stable in tip-top form at present and her very lightly-raced eight-year-old should be up to defying a penalty for that cosy success. Celebrity call was disappointing last time out and didn't help his cause by ploughing through some of his hurdles. If back on song he certainly has place claims, however of more interest should be Jonjo O'Neill's Giveusaclue. He has been off the track for 132 days but the form of his hurdling debut has been franked by the winner going in since and in the context of this race, that means he looks a major player. Ruby Dante looks the pick of Allison Thorpe's pair and could go well at a price, however for the winner we will confidently return to Netherley.
Netherley (FR) 4-7fav (10-12) Prominent, headway after 3 out, led approaching last, readily, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec beating Captain's Legacy (10-12) by 11l, 7 ran.
Celebrity Call (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Held up, headway when blundered badly 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, well behind Duc De Regniere (11-5) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Giveusaclue (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led after 5th, jumped slightly left from 3 out, headed 2 out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 16, 6l behind Beau Michel (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Just Silver Silver Patriarch gelding out of an unraced mare.
Ruby Dante (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, progress 7th, mistake 9th, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, well behind Mr Strachan (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Storm Talk (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, hit 7th, ridden and weakened after 9th, 5th of 6, well behind Old Benny (11-3) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (4) sft.
Grey Kite 250-1 (10-13) Held up, pushed along 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Sa Nau (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Stormy Bay (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, went modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Money Order (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
