held up in rear, headway before 6 out, chased winner before next, going well before 3 out, hung left from 2 out, soon ridden, not quicken
tracked leader, led 7th, mistake 4 out, hit 2 out, kept on, driven out
led to 7th, pushed along and lost place before 12th
held up towards rear, pushed along after 9th, weakened before 5 out
held up in touch, mistake 11th, soon lost place
held up towards rear, headway to 4th before 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, blundered when held 2 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders in 3rd on outer, not fluent 11th, weakening when hit 3 out
Negus De Beaumont would be the form pick on his second to Captain Americo at Newcastle but he's pulled up in four of his last five starts, though the latest came in the Eider Chase. BATTLE GROUP makes his debut over fences and can get off to a winning start as he was successful in a Grade 3 over timber at Aintree in April and looks the type for chasing. Fists Of Fury competed at a high level over hurdles in Ireland but has made mistakes in both starts over fences and will need to get his jumping together. Upthemsteps and Tricky Tree were 1-2 in a novices' hurdle at Warwick in February and both are having their first starts over the bigger obstacles. Honest John will be better for his opening run over fences at Carlisle and was a progressive type over timber last season.
Battle Group 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 19, 36l behind Dorset Square (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs.
Fists Of Fury (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped left 6th and mistake next, soon lost place until closed up again 4 out, 4th before 2 out, no extra and kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 8, 27l behind Last Instalment (11-12) at Galway 2m 6f beg chs hvy in Oct.
Honest John 12-1 (11-3) Led, headed 10th, ridden and outpaced after 14th, rallied to go remote 3rd at last, 3rd of 6, 22l behind Sarando (11-7) at Carlisle 3m grad ch (2) gs.
Negus de Beaumont (FR) 28-1 (10-5) In rear, tailed off when pulled up after 14th, in a race won by Companero (11-0) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Tobeluckyenough Evens (12-0) Mid div, 5th 1/2way & chall from 9th, cl 3rd aftr 4out, disp 3out, ld bef 2out, 1l adv at last, so best, won at Inch 3m ire ptp sft in Mar '10 beating Fernhurst Lad (12-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Tricky Tree (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 7th, headway before 3 out, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 16l behind Harry Hunt (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Upthemsteps (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Led, headed after 3 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure to challenge last, rallied to lead again narrowly flat, held on near finish, won at Warwick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Feb beating Tricky Tree (11-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
