led, not fluent 1st, awkward 6th, drew clear approaching 2 out where blundered, ridden before last, stayed on strongly flat
raced in 3rd, hit 7th, lost touch and ridden 8th, kept on but no chance with leading suo
chased leader, ridden after 3 out, jumped left last, no extra flat
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, jumped right 3rd, detached 7th, no extra
ALLMANKIND has a penalty for his victory in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown where he jumped well and made all. He faces in-form rivals here but Cheddleton's victories at Carlisle and Haydock can't be compared, though he's won both comfortably. Sky Pirate took a long time to gain his first success over fences then won a Class 2 handicap at Cheltenham and another over this course and distance at the same level. Sacre Coeur completed a double in four-year-old chases on testing ground in France and was still in touch when unseating his rider at the last in a Leicester Listed contest last month.
Allmankind 2-1fav (10-10) Led, quickened clear before bypassed 3 out, still travelling powerfully when good jump 2 out, ridden before last but kept on well, won at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec beating Hitman (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Cheddleton 2-1fav (11-4) Jumped left at times led, not fluent 8th, extended lead travelling strongly 2 out, driven out, won at Haydock 2m (3) hvy in Dec beating Cornerstone Lad (10-12) by 6l, 5 ran.
Sky Pirate 6-4fav (11-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 8th, challenged 2 out, led before last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Warwick 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Amoola Gold (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Sacre Coeur (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Led after 1st, hit 3 out, ridden along approaching last, headed and held when unseated rider last, at Leicester 2m lst (1) sft in Jan.
