held up, headway 10th, ridden when switched left and challenged after 2 out, not quicken flat
mid-division, headway 6th, 3rd when fell 8th
led, mistake 7th, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last, stayed on
jumped right, in touch, last place after 11th, hit 14th, soon weakened
chased leader to 3rd, stayed prominent, lost place briefly after 11th, mistake 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 12th, ridden to chase leader approaching 3 out, 2 after next, soon weakened
chased leaders, hung right bend after 11th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leader from 3rd, mistake 5th and 11th, lost place 14th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 15th, led approaching last, driven out
behind, headway 15th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
The more rain the merrier for Jazz d'Estruval, who is taken to see off the French challenger L'ami, with Lacdoudal, Like-A-Butterfly and Control Man adding to a decent renewal. Jazz d'Estruval missed Cheltenham due to the drying ground, but that is a blessing in disguise for the eight-year-old who is surely going to take all the beating with conditions in his favour. He impressed with his jumping at both Ayr and Haydock, and on the latter occasion was far too good for subsequent Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Trabolgan whose connections decline a rematch. Forget his fall in a two-horse race at Market Rasen where he never got into his stride, and apart from that it is hard to crab his form. The trip will bring out the best in him as well, and any more rain can only add to his chances. L'ami was fourth to Trabolgan at Cheltenham so looks held along with Like-A-Butterfly who was a place behind. Granted, the latter has since scored at Punchestown under a typical McCoy ride, but that effort may have left its mark. Lacdoudal has been a model of consistency and this tighter track will help, while Control Man drops back in distance after finishing third in the four miler at Cheltenham. With Trabolgan absent, Nicky Henderson relies instead on Chauvinist who tries today's trip for the first time. With question marks over the others for one reason or another, we return to Jazz d'Estruval as the answer.
L'ami (FR) 4-1 In touch, blundered 7th, headway 15th, one pace after 2 out, 4th of 9, 6l behind Trabolgan at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Limerick Boy (GER) 20-1 In touch, lost place when blundered 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Contraband at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
See You Sometime 12-1 Always prominent, challenged from 3 out, one pace after 2 out, 3rd of 19, 9l behind King Harald at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (A) gd in Mar.
Well Presented (IRE) 6-1 Always prominent, led 8th, headed next, 3rd 5 out, weakened before next, 6th of 13, more than 19l behind Like-A-Butterfly at Fairyhouse 2m 4f chs Grd 1 sft in Mar.
Control Man (IRE) 11-1 Mid-division, headway 16th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 20, 8l behind Another Rum at Cheltenham 4m 1f nov amt chs (B) gd in Mar.
Lacdoudal (FR) 12-1 Held up in mid-division, steady headway to chase leaders from 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, drew upsides early run-in, kept on well but held near finish, 2nd of 19, 4l behind King Harald at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (A) gd i.
Whitford Don (IRE) 11-4 Tracked leaders, led on bit 2 out, shaken up approaching last, comfortably, won at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (C) hvy in Mar beating Bubble Boy by 8l, 6 ran.
Chauvinist (IRE) 11-2 Always prominent, hit 9th, jumped left and chased winner 2 out, jumped left last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Mar.
Like-A-Butterfly (IRE) 7-2fav Tracked leaders on inner, 5th 5 out, 4th next, 2nd and ridden after 3 out, improved to challenge after last, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f chs Grd 1 sft in Mar beating Forget The Past by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Too Forward (IRE) 5-1 Held up in mid-division, headway 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 32l behind Forest Gunner at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Captain Corelli 8-1fav Behind, blundered 9th, hampered 4 out, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by King Harald at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (A) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
Jazz d'Estruval (FR) 1-8fav Tracked leader, led 3rd, hit 5th, blundered and unseated rider 7th, 2 fences behind when remounted for leisurely 2nd, last of 2, well behind Ravenscar at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov chs (C) sft in Mar.