held up in touch, chased leader 6th, not fluent 8th, hit 12th, driven and lost 2nd approaching 16th, one pace from 3 out
behind from 12th, tailed off
chased leaders, led approaching 6th, bundered 17th, drew well clear from 3 out, eased near finish
led to 5th, prominent until ridden 16th, weakened 17th
tracked leader for 6, chased leaders until regained 2nd approaching 16th, one pace from 3 out
held up, headway 4th, led 5th until approaching 6th, soon lost place and behind, pushed along from 3 out, went remote 4th last
chased leaders, pushed along 4th, lost place approaching 6th, well behind from 10th, tailed off
Nonrunner
Koquelicot gets the call ahead of Moorlands Again and Hazeljack. Koquelicot showed improvement in first-time blinkers when a good second to Inca Trail last time and a repeat of that, minus the shades today, puts him in the thick of things. Follow The Flow won this last year from 12lbs-lower mark, a fact that will not make life easy today, and Levallois hasn't impressed so far in this country after showing form in France. Moorlands Again didn't shape too badly behind Bannow Strand at Cheltenham last time in a first-time tongue-tie, so do not be surprised by improvement, while Hazeljack is just four pounds above his Leicester winning mark and is respected. Finally, Finzi looked to be improving when second to Young Lorcan at Uttoxeter last time and warrants a mention. Overall, though, we will side with Koquelicot.
Koquelicot (FR) 9-2 (10-9) Led, quickened 15th, hit 16th, ridden 4 out, hard ridden 2 out, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Inca Trail (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov.
Levallois (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, headway 5 out, weakened 4 out, soon well behind, 9th of 10, well behind Mr Dinglawi (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Mar.
Moorlands Again 50-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, 28l behind Bannow Strand (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
Follow The Flow (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced approaching 13th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Garryvoe (11-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Finzi (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Prominent, blundered 10th, ridden after 14th, chased winner 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Young Lorcan (10-13) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Held up, mistake and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Strong Magic (10-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Nov, 7 ran.
Buzybakson (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Soon behind, 6th and no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Never Awol (10-6) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp chs (F) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Hazeljack 25-1 (10-0) Jumped well, chased leader, led 4th until 9th, led 11th, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 14l behind All In The Stars (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Nov.
