tracked leaders, mistake 11th, went 2nd 13th until 3 out, 2nd again form next, no impression winner
tracked leaders, 2nd before 8th until 13th, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, headway on outside 12th, 2nd 3 out until 2 out, lost 3rd close home
led, not fluent 5th, mistake 3 out, clear next, not fluent last, stayed on well
tracked winner, not fluent 4th, lost 2nd before 8th, outpaced before 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, mistake last, went 3rd close home
NonRunner
VIBRATO VALTAT (NAP) has slowly slipped down the weights since landing the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in 2015. Back in handicap company today, Paul Nicholls’ charge can give weight away to these as he finished runner-up in a Listed chase at Kempton last time when Activial unseated early on in the race. The latter is not out of this with a clear round but Cold March is upped 6lb for winning a handicap at Musselburgh last time. Templehills has fallen either side of scoring at Fakenham in December while On Tour and No Buts are both struggling for form, though the former drops back down in class for this.
Vibrato Valtat (FR) 5-2 (11-6) Jumped well, led until narrowly headed 9th, tracked leader, led again before 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Vaniteux (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
Activial (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up 4th, awkward 1st, jumped left next, veered badly left and unseated rider 4th, at Kempton 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
On Tour (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, 4th and weakening 2 out, 5th of 13, 20 1/2l behind Foxtail Hill (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Templehills (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Towards rear on outside, fell 5th, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
No Buts 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 12th, weakened 4 out, 9th of 13, 28 3/4l behind Minella Daddy (11-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Cold March (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Led, headed before 4 out, led again 3 out, kept on, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan beating Upsilon Bleu (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.