led to 11th, ridden behind winner 3 out, rallied and stayed on well from 2 out
held up in mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 5th, ridden 7th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 10th
held up last, reminder 7th, mistake 12th, soon weakened
held up towards rear, pecked 3rd, ridden 13th, weakened and jumped left 2 out
mid-division, headway on inside 12th, stayed on same pace from 3 out
chased leader, ridden 13th, weakened and mistake 4 out
held up, hit 6th, ridden 13th, weakened 3 out
prominent, ridden 12th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
in touch, headway after 10th and joined leader, led 11th, blundered 13th, not fluent and ridden 3 out, stayed on well from last
held up in mid-division, ridden 12th, weakened after 4 out
The shortlist here contains Columbus, Master Papa, Tosawi and Were In Touch, with the vote going to Columbus. Let's spin through some of these. Lets Go Dutch won a handicap hurdle here from a mark of 100 two years ago and would have needed his return last time, but he might still be ring-rusty, while Columbus won his hurdle from a mark of 119 and has shown enough over fences, including when a 23-length second to the decent Graphic Approach, to be on the shortlist today. Master Papa is a 110-rated hurdling winner who has also shown chasing promise, and Tosawi, who ran pretty well here over an inadequate trip last time, has already produced chasing form in the low 100s, so he is entitled to support. Bob Ar Aghaidh was a 110-plus rated hurdler but, despite hopes being otherwise, hasn't cut the mustard so far over fences. Finally, Were In Touch, representing the powerful Paul Nicholls stable, has shown a fair level of form in just four racecourse appearances, including when beaten 27 lengths into fourth behind Sixo at Chepstow last time, but he will need to settle better than he did there to be shown to best effect. As we say, then, these are the principals, with the vote going to Columbus.
Bob Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 11-2 5th and in touch when blundered and fell 5 out in race won by Too Forward at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (E) gs in Jan, 9 ran.
Charlie's Cross (IRE) 33-1 Never better than mid-division, 7th of 12, well behind Do L'enfant D'eau at Exeter 2m 3f beg chs (E) gs in Jan.
Columbus (IRE) 3-1 Chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by Toulon Rouge at Kelso 3m 1f beg chs (D) gd, 9 ran.
Master Papa (IRE) 9-1 Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, close 3rd but held when fell at the last in race won by Duchamp at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd, 8 ran.
Monty Be Quick 80-1 Held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Golden Crusader at Hereford 2m beg chs (E) sft, 7 ran.
Tosawi (IRE) 13-2 Led to 2nd, chased leaders until 9th, behind when left 4th last, 4th of 8, 22l behind Duchamp at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Were In Touch (IRE) 5-2 Held up, headway after 11th, chased winner 5 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, 4th of 9, 27l behind Sixo at Chepstow 3m 2f beg chs (E) hvy in Jan.
Lets Go Dutch 12-1 Mid-division, lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Monita Des Bois at Towcester 2m 6f mrs nov chs (D) sft, 9 ran.
