in touch, mistake and lost place 7th, behind from 8th, plugged on for poor 3rd
in rear and not jump well, behind when pulled up 11th
tracked leaders, lost place and blundered 10th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out
in touch, jumped left 1st, hit 3rd, mistake 7th, reminders 9th, weakened 4 out
led and set good pace, mistake 12th, headed soon after and weakened
held up, headway 6th, ridden 4 out, led 3 out, ran on
tracked leader, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 10th, ridden and every chance 2 out, beaten when jumped left last
held up, headway 7th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened quickly
An open contest but after bouncing back to form with a win last time out, Smart Cavalier gets the vote to go in again at the main expense of the consistent Lorient Express and No Way Back. Paul Nicholls' horses continue in great fashion and his eight-year-old appreciated the step up in trip when scoring at Newton Abbot on April Fools Day. That performance was no joke and he must be competitive today as a 6lb rise in the weights doesn't look overly harsh. Lorient Express is game and consistent and Venetia Williams' runner should go well now back over fences, however the step up in trip is a bit of an unknown. No Way Back returns from a break and will need to have improved, whilst Neltina has form over the course and distance and the booking of Mick Fitzgerald for the second race in a row catches the eye. Cool Roxy is 8lbs above his highest winning mark but put in a grand round of jumping when last seen over fences when scoring easily and he could yet defy this mark. Mort De Rire and Pardishar are two more for consideration, but Smart Cavalier is in form and looks the one to beat.
Cool Roxy 14-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led after 9th, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Present Glory (10-4) at Ascot 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Mort De Rire (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 10th, weakened 12th, left moderate 3rd last, 3rd of 7, well behind Limited Edition (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Another Joker 50-1 (10-4) Mid-division, hit 8th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Kalca Mome (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Neltina 25-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 9th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Allumee (11-6) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Lorient Express (FR) 15-8fav (10-11) In touch, led 4th, hit 3 out, headed last and no extra, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Another Burden (10-4) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
East Tycoon (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 4th, some headway 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 29l behind Turgeonev (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Super Nomad 7-1 (11-7) Bolted start and did one circuit, led 2nd, headed after 5th, weakened 10th, 8th of 14, 41l behind Galway (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gf in Mar.
Smart Cavalier 15-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders and always going well, led approaching 2 out, ridden after last, kept on, won at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Iris's Prince (10-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
No Way Back (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up rear, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Butler's Cabin (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Pardishar (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Not always fluent, in touch, hit 6th, driven along from 8th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 11, 10l behind Allumee (11-6) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
