chased leaders, not fluent, dropped to last 8th, 5 lengths off leader and still last when fell 4 out
2nd or 3rd, pushed along briefly 11th, ridden 3 out, 4 lengths down when winner made mistake 2 out, no impression
2nd or 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, ridden next, 4th and no extra 2 out, weakened
made all, jumped right 4th, 4 lengths clear when blundered 2 out, rider lost iron briefly, soon back on an even keel and stayed on well
held up, not fluent 4th, effort 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, went one paced 2 out
Graasten has a very good record over hurdles around here and made a successful debut over fences at Fontwell before finishing a close third at Cheltenham. He started 1/8 for a novices' chase here last month and was beaten but should do better in these much more testing conditions. MORNEY WING (NAP) won a Class 2 handicap at Sandown in December then ran a superb race in the Eider Chase at Newcastle. He stays much further than this and his young rider should ensure he gets a stamina test. Enjoy Responsibly wins his share and produced a good effort in a Class 2 at Doncaster last time while Kim Bailey tries Another Venture in a visor in an attempt to recapture last year's form when he completed a double on testing ground. Holly Bush Henry was only beaten narrowly by the selection at Fakenham last January when conceding 13lb so would be a certainty on that form but he hasn't shown the same kind of form.
Graasten (GER) 1-8fav (11-4) Often jumped left, led, headed before the last, no extra, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Mine's A Pint (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f (4) gd in Feb.
Morney Wing (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Prominent, challenged 5 out, led 4 out, head 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 16, 6 1/4l behind Crosspark (10-13) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Enjoy Responsibly (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in rear and in touch, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, kept on in 3rd, no impression, 3rd of 6, 5 1/2l behind Looking Well (11-4) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Another Venture (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led until before 5th, led 15th, headed before 4 out, no impression from next, 5th of 15, 19 1/4l behind Dawson City (11-10) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 10-1 (12-5) Chased leaders, lost place 13th, ridden after 3 out, rallied run-in, 6th of 13, 28 1/4l behind Le Reve (12-5) at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Mar.