prominent, chased leader, going well approaching 2 out, chance last, not quicken run-in
held up in rear, hampered bend before 2nd, driven and struggling after 3 out
in mid-division when stumbled and unseated rider before 2nd
not always fluent, held up in rear, hit 2nd, headway after 3 out, driven to challenge when mistake last, no extra run-in
held up in mid-division, headway under pressure before 2 out, weakened between last two
in touch, weakened 6th, soon behind
prominent, weakened before 6th, tailed off when hit 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway from 4th, led soon after 3 out, pressed from next, hit last, kept on run-in, caught near finish
held up in mid-division, weakened 6th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, just in touch when blundered and weakened 2 out
held up in rear, hampered bend before 2nd, effort under pressure to chase leaders before 2 out, weakened quickly
in touch, ridden and lost place 5th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, steady headway from 3 out, chased leaders next, challenged, not fluent and bumped last, quickend run-in, led near finish
close up, hit 3 out, soon weakened
led to soon after 3 out, weakened quickly before next
in touch, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
towards rear, headway on outside after 6th, weakened after next
not fluent, held up towards rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Cornish Sett has done little wrong since being switched to hurdling and is taken to follow up his last time out Cheltenham success at the main expense of Rebel Rhythm and The Listener. The last mentioned has looked progressive in novice hurdles but has his fair share of weight for what he has achieved. Henry Daly's Billyvoddan narrowly beat King Killone at Doncaster in January and there should not be much to choose between the two on the revised terms to day, with marginal preference for Henrietta Knight's gelding who should appreciate this stiffer test of stamina better. Nicky Henderson's Lord Buckingham has a nice racing weight and is entitled to do better than when last seen as the stable was out of form then. Julius Caesar has won his last two but this looks tougher and of more interest may be Sue Smith's Rebel Rhythm, who has had this as his target for some time now but has plenty of weight. The Paul Nicholls-trained Quid Pro Quo has claims with Tony McCoy booked for the ride but Ruby Walsh prefers Cornish Sett and the hint is taken. The six-year-old is still unexposed over hurdles after just three starts over timber and showed his best form when making his handicap debut at Cheltenham last time, running out the ready winner of a similar contest. A 12lb rise for that seems perfectly fair and Cornish Sett is taken to follow up.
Rebel Rhythm 5-6fav Made all, not fluent 6th, ridden approaching last, just held on, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Feb beating Von Origny by a shd, 13 ran.
Escompteur (FR) 33-1 Always behind, 21st of 25, 26l behind Essex at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
The Listener (IRE) 5-2 Always going well, led 3rd, headed next, led again 5th, headed after 6th, led after 3 out, hit 2 out, pushed clear, won at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (C) hvy in Feb beating Garryvoe by 7l, 7 ran.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 5-1fav Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, steady headway after 6th, led between last two, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Jan beating Dom d'Orgeval by 2 1/2l, 20 ran.
Alderburn 4-1 Mid-division, headway on bit approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on one pace from last, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Senor Sedona at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (C) sft in Feb.
Without A Doubt 9-4 Led, hit 4th, headed 6th, outpaced by leading pair soon after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Dusky Warbler at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Feb.
Lord Olympia (IRE) 13-8 Led, mistake 9th, ridden and mistake 2 out, slight advantage when fell last fell at the last in race won by Always Waining at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (C) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Billyvoddan (IRE) 5-4fav Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gd in Jan beating King Killone by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Muhtenbar 3-1 Led 4th, lost place 7th, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Swift Swallow at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gd in Feb, 13 ran.
King Killone (IRE) 6-1 Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Billyvoddan at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gd in Jan.
Quid Pro Quo (FR) 5-2 Mid-division, headway 6th, chased leaders and ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 17, 21l behind Racing Demon at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Classic Capers 9-2 Held up in touch, chased leaders 7th, led after 3 out, kept on well from next, won at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Feb beating Italiano by 4l, 13 ran.
Julius Caesar 9-2 Not fluent, close up, led 4 out, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (E) sft in Jan beating Em's Royalty by 4l, 13 ran.
Good Citizen (IRE) 11-4fav Held up, headway 5th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 15, 6l behind Pass Me A Dime at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (E) gs in Feb.
Florida Dream (IRE) 5-2fav Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed after 8th, gradually weakened, 13th of 15, 36l behind Supreme Serenade at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gd in Jan.
Lord Buckingham 5-2 Led, headed 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon held, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Big Bone at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
One Cornetto (IRE) 15-2 Held up in mid-division, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 13, 19l behind Jair Ohmsford at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Medici (FR) 9-4fav Held up in touch, led after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 4th of 12, 9l behind Martha's Kinsman at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gs.
