made all, jumped well, driven 2 out, stayed on strongly (2 fences ommited)
tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, slow 8th, effort 5 out, mistake next, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, driven to challenge 3 out, soon under pressure, weakened last
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner
Only five runners have been declared for this but it's still a tricky puzzle to solve. This is O'callaghan Strand's trip and he won at Ludlow last time but he's 7lb higher here and heavy going could be a problem. Gores Island still needs to brush up his jumping but did make the frame at Doncaster last month and he makes more appeal than Oscar Davy, who has been tailed off in his two runs to date over fences, and Lingfield runner-up Itoldyou. KAPGA DE CERISY has been well backed in his last two starts and clearly found 2m too short at Warwick last time. This doesn't look as tough and Venetia Williams' promising novice can get off the mark over the larger obstacles.
Kapga De Cerisy (FR) 7-2fav (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Rody (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
O'callaghan Strand (AUS) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders in close 5th, went 3rd at 8th, went 2nd 11th, challenged 2 out, carried left soon after, led approaching last, ridden clear flat, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan beating Roll The Dice (10-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Gores Island (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner before 3 out until last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Back Bob Back (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Jan.
Oscar Davy (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) In touch in 5th, headway to chase leaders 7th (water), ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, poor 4th when mistake last, tailed off, 4th of 11, well behind Arbeo (10-10) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Itoldyou (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, chased leader until 7th, blundered next, mistake 10th, badly outpaced 12th, rallied before 2 out, driven and stayed on bypassing ommited 2 out, edged left and went 2nd flat, held and no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Double Dash (11-7) at Lingfield 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
