chased leaders until weakened after 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
jumped left, held up, went 3rd 7th, ridden to challenge for 2nd when pecked 3 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake and unseated rider last
held up, chased winner from 5th, ridden after 7th, no chance with winner from 3 out
jumped left, chased winner until 5th, soon ridden, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
held up, ridden in 4th after 7th, kept on same pace from next, left 3rd last
made all, soon well clear, unchallenged
behind, stayed on from 3 out, left 4th last, never going pace to trouble leaders
An interesting race in which Fabulous Jet, our choice, has obvious claims under a penalty but all five above him are of some interest. Sasso was disappointing at Ludlow but may be worth another chance with the yard in better form now. Nanga Parbat has had just the two runs over fences and couldn't be confidently dismissed. Space Cowboy drops back to a more realistic grade and is far from exposed over fences having faced some stiff tasks in five starts. Climate Change battled on gamely to score at Ludlow and is another that may well have more to offer whilst So Wise So Young showed promise over hurdles and is sure to have benefited from the experience of his chase bow where he faced an impossible task. That said, Fabulous Jet is sure to go up by more than the 7lb penalty that he carries having sauntered clear to record a runaway success at Hereford. That was a pretty taking performance and Fabulous Jet may well be able to follow up.
Sasso 10-11fav (11-0) Led, jumped left throughout, headed 8th, led again 12th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened, 4th of 5, 32l behind Bonchester Bridge (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Nanga Parbat (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden and chased leader approaching 4 out, weakened after, 4th of 6, well behind Sarin (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Held up, blundered 5 out, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 9, 35l behind King Louis (11-3) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Dec.
Climate Change (USA) 12-1 (11-0) Led early, close up, reminders 8th, led again after 9th, ridden when headed 2 out, stayed on gamely to lead again last, all out, won at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gd in Jan beating Kervriou (10-4) by a shd, 12 ran.
So Wise So Young 25-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, lost place 8th, headway after 11th, soon no impression, 4th of 6, 42l behind Oslot (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Fabulous Jet (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Made all, clear 2nd, stumbled slightly 2 out and last, unchallenged, won at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs beating Urban Tiger (11-8) by 13l, 11 ran.
Compton Star 20-1 (10-5) In touch, chased winner 5th, lost place 7th, weakened quickly, last of 4, well behind Presenting Copper (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nov chs (3) hvy.