held up in touch, weakened from 3 out, tailed off when fell next
tracked leader, pushed along before 11th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, jumped slow 10th and lost place, pushed along before 12th, in 3rd and one pace from 3 out
held up in rear, went 2nd after 3 out, led before next, clear before last, easily
led, headed 6th, led again after 8th, headed 13th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 6th, headed after 8th, led again 13th, headed before 2 out, one pace and no chance with winner
Valley View is well treated but has hardly raised a gallop since running a decent race on his reappearance at Carlisle in November. Categorical is another who has been woefully out of form this season while it's a bit of a worry that the lightly-raced Handtheprizeover has been pulled in his last two starts, though he has sight lowered here. GORGEHOUS LLIEGE was below par when only fourth in a novice chase at Warwick last time but an earlier defeat of Gemini Ahs at Towcester has been franked and this stiff track should play to his strengths. He gets the nod ahead of Fakenham second Three Chords and the disappointing Hodgson.
Three Chords (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Close up, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 6l behind The Black Baron (10-11) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Handtheprizeover 12-1 (10-11) Close up, weakened quickly 3 out, pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Relax (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Valley View (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, 29l behind Speedy Bruere (11-7) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Categorical 4-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, stumbled before 7th, weakened from 5 out, 8th of 9, well behind Devotion To Duty (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Gorgehous Lliege (FR) 6-4fav (10-12) Led to 4th, tracked leader, mistake 9th and 10th, reminders before 13th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, 28l behind Al Alfa (10-12) at Warwick 3m nov chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Hodgson (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, slow 4th, reminders and some headway 9th, driven in 6th and struggling after 13th, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Milo Milan (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
