led until jumped slowly and headed 7th, stayed challenging, led 12th to after 4 out, ridden and every chance 3 out, one pace and held when blundered last, kept on run-in
tracked leader, mistake 2nd, remained in touch from 4th, closed steadily after 3 out, challenged and mistake 2 out, upsides and not much room last, driven ahead run-in
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 7th to 12th, led again after 4 out, narrowly headed 2 out, close up last, one pace run-in
settled in close 4th, went 2nd going well 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, headed and not quicken run-in
held up last, well outpaced 4 out, still plenty to do from next, stayed on approaching last, not pace to challenge
Despite unseating his rider early on in the Pillar last week, Ollie Magern is bound to be popular with backers but the drop in trip may not be ideal for the Feltham winner and preference is for Ashley Brook, who gets the vote ahead of Lacdoudal. The last mentioned is progressing nicely having won his last three starts, the last two of which were against more experienced rivals in handicaps and clearly has to be respected. Ashley Brook is probably less exposed though and he is marginally preferred. Keith Bishop's gelding showed his reappearance success at Exeter was no fluke when following up at Newton Abbot and lost no caste in defeat behind My Will at Uttoxeter when dropped in trip last time. The return to this distance will suit the seven-year-old ideally and he gets the vote. Henrietta Knight's El Vaquero has proved himself to be better over fences than over hurdles but faces his stiffest task to date and is probably not up to it and of more interest may be the Paul Nicholls-trained Le Passing, who won a handicap at Uttoxeter last time decisively and is clearly going the right way. He would probably prefer a softer surface though, as would See You Sometime, and a safer option looks to be Ashley Brook.
Ashley Brook (IRE) 11-4jt-fav Made most to 5th, chased leader until outpaced after 3 out, rallied to chase winner approaching last, hung left, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind My Will at Uttoxeter 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) hvy in Jan.
El Vaquero (IRE) 9-2 Held up, badly hampered 3rd, led 7th, not fluent, headed 2 out, soon ridden, still every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 4l behind My Will at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Jan.
Lacdoudal (FR) 4-1 Jumped well, with leader, led 4th, made rest, in command well before last, drew clear run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (B) gs in Jan beating Joes Edge by 5l, 6 ran.
