chased leaders, went prominent 6th, mistake 12th, struggling from 15th, tailed off
prominent 1st, chased leaders, lost place before 9th, not fluent 10th or 11th, closed 12th, no extra 2 out, tailed off
prominent, led 4th, jumped left 7th, headed 9th, led after 12th, headed 18th, lost 2nd 2 out, no extra flat
led until 4th, led 9th, headed after 12th, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, challenged 2nd until not fluent 6th, lost place 14th, stayed on from 2 out, slow and went 3rd last, no real further impression flat
in rear, jumped slowly 4th, tailed off from 10th
in touch until jumped slowly 3rd, struggling 7th, tailed off 10th, still going 16th, pulled up after
held up, headway before 9th, went 2nd 17th, led next, jinked slightly on landing 3 out, stayed on well
in rear, behind, 9th, tailed off next, still going 11th, fell soon after
chasing leaders 2nd, not fluent 2nd or 8th, lost place before 12th, tailed off
Paul Nicholls has won this three times in the last 10 years, including when it was last staged in 2013. Jody Sole partnered Gwanako to victory that day and can get COWARDS CLOSE (NAP) home in front this afternoon. The eight-year-old has only won a novice event at Taunton so far over the larger obstacles but was third in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham on his latest start and that form is the best on offer. Ballyallia Man was pulled up behind the selection's stablemate Unioniste here last month but has run well here in the past and has each-way prospects. Ballybough Gorta, Count Salazar and Loose Chips are woefully out of sorts while Fort George and Cinevator both have an absence to overcome.
Ballybough Gorta (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Led to 2nd, lost place next, behind from 5th, reminders 7th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Itoldyou (10-11) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Count Salazar (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 12, 44l behind Bertie Boru (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Fort George (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leader, 3rd after 7 out, improved to lead after 4 out and ridden after 3 out, jumped left at last two, kept on well run-in, won at Killarney 2m 6f hcp chs 0-116 gd in Jul beating Tylers Cottage (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Loose Chips 5-1 (11-4) Led until 8th, chased leader until next, led again approaching 10th until 12th, lost 2nd next, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Ballinvarrig (10-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
Ballyallia Man (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Off the pace in 6th, jumped slowly 12th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 16th (water), in a race won by Unioniste (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Cinevator (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, ridden after 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat, 5th of 8, 11l behind Cinematique (10-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Jun.
Corkage (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Drpd rr 10; to, 12th of 14, well behind Citizens Arrest (12-0) at Dunston Harriers 3m ptp gs in Jan.
Cowards Close (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Held up in touch in mid-division, ridden on 3rd after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Benbane Head (9-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Oedipe (FR) 16-1 (12-5) (tt) a last; to & pu 13, in a race won by Aerial (12-5) at Royal Artillery 3m ptp gd in Jan, 5 ran.
Theophrastus (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Ur 3, in a race won by Stress (12-0) at Waveney Harriers 3m ptp gd in Jan, 11 ran.
