tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4th, closed after 4 out, weakened next
held up in 4th, closed from 8th to track leaders 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, headed last, kept on under pressure run-in, held near finish
held up in 5th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led and set good pace, clear 3rd, hit 8th and next, not fluent and headed 3 out, weakened from next
blundered 2nd, held up in 5th, hit 9th, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, led last, driven run-in, held on near finish
blundered 2nd, tracked clear leader to be poor 4th, chased leaders until weakened before 3 out
The Paul Nicholls-trained Chef Tartare has been improved since being sent chasing and is taken to win his second race over the larger obstacles at the main expense of Golden Crusader and Jarro. The last mentioned has claims on the form shown when winning at Windsor in December but has disappointed since then and is probably best watched today, while Executive Decision ran promisingly on his return over hurdles recently but needs to improve back over fences to win this. Kind Sir receives weight but may need further to show his best form, while Super Nomad may need this on his reappearance. Stablemate The Nomad is difficult to recommend on the balance of this season's form and a bigger threat may come from Golden Crusader, who is less exposed than most of these. The vote though goes to Chef Tartare, who looks a progressive type and is taken to resume winning ways.
Jarro (FR) 9-1 Prominent, headway 7th, mistake 8th, kept on from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Master Rex at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec.
Super Nomad 20-1 Led to 2nd, chased leaders to 4th, stayed close up until weakened 8th, tailed off, 13th of 15, 40l behind Tango Royal at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Apr.
The Nomad 40-1 In touch, headway and effort 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 24l behind King's Bounty at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Feb.
Golden Crusader 10-3 Keen, led and soon clear, ridden 3 out, headed flat, driven and rallied near finish, just failed, 2nd of 5, nk behind Specular at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (C) sft in Feb.
Chef Tartare (FR) 4-7fav Held up, headway on bit after 3 out, led 2 out, mistake last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Imaginaire at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft.
Executive Decision (IRE) 11-1 Held up, headway under pressure 3 out, stayed on flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Vivid Imagination at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb.
Kind Sir 6-1 Led, hit 5th, headed 7th, chased leader to 12th, weakening when mistake next, 5th and no chance when fell 4 out in race won by Beau Supreme at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
