started last, headway to lead after 1st, headed before 7th, led 9th, not fluent 11th or 13th, clear approaching last, stayed on
tracked leaders on outside, jumped right 10th, lost place approaching 12th, behind 4 out
held up, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 9th, every chance 2 out, no impression on winner before last
led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 10th, not much room 13th or 3 out, 3rd and beaten 2 out, blundered last, weakened flat
held up, mistake 3rd, not fluent 9th, headway after 4 out, 4th and beaten 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 9th, closed 13th, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, challenged 5th, led approaching 7th, headed and ridden 9th, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on going to last, closing on 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
KILVERGAN BOY is difficult to catch on a going day but the same can be said for the majority of today's rivals and Nigel Twiston-Davies' gelding won off an 8lb higher mark last season. He gets a tentative vote with Gidam Gidam better suited by hunter chases nowadays and Kilcascan probably flattered by his form figures. The latter has run four times here without managing a win. Age seems to have caught up with Irish Guard while Top Benefit has managed just one win in six years, though is still preferred to Keeverfield and Matmata De Tendron at the weights.
Keeverfield (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 5th, chased leaders before and not fluent 8th, lost place before 11th, tailed off, pulled up, in a race won by Etxalar (11-1) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 10th, outpaced from 13th, never dangerous, 4th of 8, 14l behind Blackwell Synergy (11-10) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs.
Kilcascan 12-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, bad mistake and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Loughalder (10-10) at Chepstow 3m Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (5) sft, 10 ran.
Irish Guard 25-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, not much room 4th, lost place and ridden 9th, mistake 11th, well behind 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Rouge Et Blanc (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Top Benefit (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway to chase leaders 4 out, effort 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Quayside Court (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 11-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, mistake 8th, ridden 10th, outpaced after 16th, well beaten after 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 49l behind Franklin Roosevelt (11-10) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Feb.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 5-1 (10-1) With leader, lost place 13th, rallied approaching last, never able to challenge, 4th of 9, 10l behind Quayside Court (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs.
