held up in rear, progress to go 4th 11th, went 3rd after 3f out, soon weakened, ridden eased down close home and lost 3rd
prominent, lost place 5th, reminded after next, not fluent and losing touch from 10th, left poor 3rd close home
chased winner, hit 3rd, lost 2nd 7th, weakened 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
held up in rear, reminder after 3rd, effort 9th, weakened 12th, not fluent 4f out, tailed off when pulled up after 3f out
made all, drew clear approaching 2f out, stayed on well, unchallenged
mistakes, prominent, blundered 3f out, soon ridden to chase winner, no chance
in touch, hampered 2nd, losing touch from 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2f out
tracked leaders, chased winner from 7th, blundered 8th, lost 2nd after 3f out and soon hung left, swished tail and weakened, pulled up after 2f out
DURANTE is no sure thing but he is well clear on official ratings and can gain his first chasing success at the main expense of course winner Irish Guard. Jim Old's gelding is winless in 19 starts and at the age of 11, he might be running out of time. However his second behind Never So Blue at Bangor reads well and although he disappointed last time, that can be put down to the marathon trip. Dropped in distance today, he might be worth siding with in a decidedly lacklustre opener. Chasing looks like a desperate roll of the dice for Blue Hills, Maraafeq represents a trainer in good form and is one to respect on his chasing bow, whilst A Few Kind Words unseated his rider on his recent chasing debut. He may do better in this sphere but he hardly has the most appealing of profiles. A bigger danger could be Irish Guard who put in a bold performance last time at Leicester on his chasing debut. A return to the scene of his only success may see him go very close; however we are happy to stick with Durante as the nomination.
A Few Kind Words (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Towards rear, blundered 5th, weakening when unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Take It There (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Badger 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened from 5th, 8th of 14, well behind Ikorodu Road (11-1) at Southwell 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gd.
Blue Hills 66-1 (11-0) Held up, never dangerous, 6th of 8, well behind Greenbridge (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
Durante (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, mistake 8th, not fluent 14th, lost place next, weakened 17th, 5th of 6, 45l behind Keenan's Future (11-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Irish Guard 16-1 (11-0) Led to 3rd, chased winner, no chance 9th, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Oscatello (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (5) gs.
Maraafeq (USA) 5-1jt-fav (11-11) Chased leader, led 5th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 9l behind Dont Tell The Wife (10-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Premier Bleu (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 6th, ridden and weakened 16th, no chance when pulled up 5 out in race won by Carnival Town (11-0) at Chepstow 3m 2f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Which Alice (IRE) 100-1 (10-4) Raced in 6th, lost touch next and pulled up at the 14th in race won by Its A Dream (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
