tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, weakening when mistake 2 out
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened last
held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, fell 4th
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, mistake 5th, outpaced after 7th, rallied 2 out, hit last, no chance with winner
mid-division, ridden 7th, soon weakened, behind when blundered last
in touch, led 3 out, clear approaching last, easily
always behind, tailed off 3 out
in touch to 7th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
Kelrev looked an unlucky loser at Wincanton on Boxing Day when his jockey lost his irons but the handicapper has seen fit to raise the Venetia Williams-trained gelding by 7lbs since and he looks worth taking on which we do with Ivanoph, who gets the vote over Multeen River. The last mentioned was a shade disappointing on his handicap debut at Ascot last month but this represents a drop in class so Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has to be respected. Paul Webber's Abalvino has dropped to a fair mark and is another worthy of a mention along with top weight Sir Storm, who has won his last two but has more to do now. Market Rasen novice chase winner Haditovski looks to be fairly treated for his handicap debut and cannot be discounted but Ivanoph sets a decent standard and gets the vote. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding only lost out on the run-in at Stratford last time and, with the slightly shorter trip to suit, the eight-year-old looks the one to beat.
