led, ridden and headed before last, regained lead soon after last, kept on
in touch in 4th, blundered 3rd, reminder 5th, weakened before 2 out
towards rear, weakened from 7th
towards rear, went 2nd from 7th led before last, about 3 lengths up when blundered badly last, soon headed, no extra after
tracked winner, blundered and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace
in rear, soon detached, tailed off and pulled up before 5th
Hotgrove Boy won this last year but is 12lb higher and hasn't been seen since July where he ran poorly at Perth. Devil's Dyke has never won a race under Rules and been beaten a long way in three starts over fences while Home For Tea is also a maiden, though he's gone close on a couple of occasions and is on a decent enough mark. Gin Cobbler has won a hunter chase event on the course, though over further, but Rosquero has been well beaten in all three starts over fences. The bottom pair, PINDAR and Zazamix, have both scored over the course and distance and the latter also won over further here in January. The former's run behind Narcissist at Catterick last week might just be good enough in a tricky contest.
Hotgrove Boy 4-1 (11-1) Always in rear, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Harrys Whim (11-4) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Devil's Dyke (USA) 7-2 (11-1) Led until after 1st, chased leader until before 4th, chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, tailed off and blundered 2 out, last of 4, well behind Nomadic Storm (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Home For Tea 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, close up when fell 7th, in a race won by Bobbits Way (11-8) at Bangor 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Gin Cobbler 10-3 (9-7) In rear, went 3rd from 2 out, chased winner before last, no impression, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Degooch (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Rosquero (FR) 11-2 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 9th, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Mighty Cliche (10-1) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Feb.
Pindar (GER) 16-1 (10-0) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Narcissist (11-9) at Catterick 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs.
Zazamix (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Behind, slow 6th, reminders before 10th, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Auldthunder (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Feb.
