raced in 4th, brief effort after 4 out, no impression and beaten after next
leaders, went 2nd and not fluent 7th (water), led before 3 out, in command after 2 out, pushed clear run-in, readily
tracked clear leader, not fluent 5th, lost 2nd 7th, rallied to chase winner 3 out, tried to close next, readily held well before last, weakened run-in
raced freely, clear 3rd, headed before 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in 5th, mistake 6th, ridden and struggling before 3 out
held up last, well outpaced from 3rd, hit 8th, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, took moderate 3rd near finish
Dempsey has looked far from natural over fences and looks a risky proposition at the likely odds and a chance is taken with Mambo, who is preferred to Made In France. The last mentioned looked a safe conveyance for a novice when making a winning start to his chasing career in Britain at Newton Abbot in November. Martin Pipe's gelding has surprisingly only had one start since then, over hurdles at Kempton on Boxing Day and he remains unexposed. Through The Rye was useful over hurdles and also made a winning debut over the larger obstacles before finding Stromy Lord half-a-length too good at Kelso last week. He looks to be going the right way but needs to improve. Murphy's Quest has had his problems, while Goldbrook does not look good enough. Dempsey has an obvious chance on his best form but as we have already said has yet to convince with his jumping and preference is for Mambo. Admittedly Nicky Henderson's gelding was pulled up on his last two starts but earlier form when beating Lacdoudal over course and distance looks solid and, at the forecast odds, he looks worth a bet.
Through The Rye 8-1 In touch, headway after 2 out, stayed on to lead briefly run-in, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Stormy Lord at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (B) sft.
Dempsey (IRE) 6-1 Jumped slowly and unseated rider in race won by Kadount at Wincanton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb, 5 ran.
Mambo (IRE) 10-1 Not jump well, mistake 1st, held up, brief effort before 12th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Limerick Boy at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Made In France (FR) 11-2 Raced freely, led and clear 2nd, came back to field 5th, ridden and headed before 2 out where mistake and weakened, 7th of 9, 31l behind Coat of Honour at Kempton 2m nov hdl (B) gs in Dec.
Goldbrook 14-1 Held up off the pace, closed from 4 out, challenged 3 out, ridden to take narrow lead when fell 2 out in race won by L'Ange Au Ciel at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Murphy's Quest 5-1 Prominent, ridden 7th, one pace from 3 out, 8th of 18, well behind Gold Medallist at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
