tracked leader until ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace last, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led, hung left from before 2 out, headed last, lost 2nd flat
hit 6th, behind 8th, tailed off
tracked leaders, took keen hold, hit 3rd, went 2nd on bit 2 out, led last, very easily
Having thrown in the towel at Newbury, Barry Geraghty was very reluctant to let BELLVANO off the leash at Kelso but he still found enough to see off good yardstick Kings Grey. McCoy will probably have to kid him home again here but the eight-year-old has plenty of ability and should prove too strong for Wincanton winner Falcon Island and Lancetto, who has been quite highly tried since beating Toubab at Cheltenham in the autumn. The latter is the fly in the ointment as he's better off at the weights here, though hasn't been seen since falling when going well at Haydock in November.
Falcon Island 3-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ran on strongly, won at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec beating Super Formen (11-8) by 8l, 6 ran.
Lancetto (FR) 7-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5th, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 10, 4l behind Quicuyo (11-0) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Brannoc (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, blundered 7th, soon struggling, weakened before next, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Super Directa (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Toubab (FR) 4-5fav (11-0) Held up in last, hit 8th, closed 4 out, 3 lengths 3rd and going strongly when fell next, in a race won by Nadiya De La Vega (11-0) at Haydock 2m grad ch (2) gd in Nov, 5 ran.
Bellvano (GER) 5-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, left 2nd and 2nd, led after last, kept on well, hard held, won at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (2) gs beating Kings Grey (11-4) by 2l, 4 ran.
