behind, jumped slowly 6th, soon switched outside, headway and in touch 12th, mistakes 13 and next, behind when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leader to 5th, in touch, lost place 12th, outpaced when not fluent 15th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway 15th, chased leaders 3 out, 4th and outpaced when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
made most, pecked 14th, soon headed, lost place 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, headway to lead after 14th, 2 lengths clear when blundered 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra
in touch on inside, lost place 12th, outpaced 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no chance with leading pair
tracked leaders, hit 11th, reminders and lost place 12th, behind from 4 out
in touch, disputed lead 5th, lost place 14th, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
held up in touch, headway to track leading pair 15th, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, driven out flat
FREEZE UP is narrowly preferred here to Killard Point and Quentin D'ex in what looks a competitive opener. David Pipe's gelding has gone up 2lb in the handicap for a recent third to Qhilimar at Newbury but that represented a return to form. He still looks capable of winning off this re-assesed mark and with this better ground in his favour and the possibility of getting his own way out in front he should run a big race. Killard Point bounced back to form at Bangor earlier in the month and he has gone close off this sort of mark before, Quentin D'ex flopped at Warwick last time out where his jumping was untidy but his previous beating of Gilsland reads well, whilst Ballycarney was not un-fancied at Uttoxeter when last seen and would be intriguing today if the money comes on this first start for Emma Lavelle. Yeoman Spirit has a more consistent profile and should appreciate the ground, Tuskar Rock remains capable of better but must be frustrating for punters to follow, whilst Pacco and Hermano Cordobes are both attractively handicapped. Phoenix Des Mottes is considered despite being out of the weights, however the vote is given to top-weight Freeze Up.
Freeze Up (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Tended to jump right, chased leaders, led approaching 2nd to 4 out, led again 2 out, already headed when blundered badly last, not recover and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Qhilimar (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Killard Point (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Led, hard pressed when jumped right 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind The Shy Man (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Quentin D'ex (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, mistake 10th, not fluent 12th, mistake 14th, ridden next, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Captain Tidds (10-9) at Warwick 3m nov chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Ballycarney (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Buffalo Bob (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov, 13 ran.
Yeoman Spirit (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Close up, led 3rd, headed 6th, mistake 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 16l behind Emperor Concerto (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chase (4) sft in Feb.
Tuskar Rock (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 5th, hit 9th, not fluent 11th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 31l behind Bradford Boris (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy.
Pacco (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Mid-division, fell 8th, in a race won by Bradford Boris (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy, 10 ran.
Hermano Cordobes (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, soon reminders, weakened from 7th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Omix D'or (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 33-1 (10-5) Raced in last and behind, left remote 3rd 14th, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 22l behind Superior Wisdom (10-9) at Kempton 3m nov chs (3) gd.
