led to 11th, led 4 out, ridden 3 out, pushed out, kept on well from last
prominent and pulled early, blundered 3rd, chased leader 6th, led 11th to 4 out, ridden and close 3rd when fell 3 out
chased leader, mistake 10th, soon tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, some headway 13th, weakened 2 out
towards rear, weakened 13th, pulled up before last
in touch, weakened 11th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, mistake 13th, challenging when mistake 2 out, hit last, no chance after
towards rear, headway 11th, left 3rd 3 out, kept on from 2 out, took 2nd last
Atouchbetweenacara landed a gamble for connections on Sunday and won in such facile fashion that it is hard to see beyond him in this contest, even though this is a tougher assignment. That was his first outing over fences, displaying signs of greenness in the closing stages and can be expected to improve from that outing provided the race does not come to quick. Comber is another who justified strong support last time and a 6lb rise means he should get in the mix while Toshula is due to go up 4lb and off his feather weight he has to be respected. A small field but not much to choose between them and Atouchbetweenacara can do the business under his penalty.
Kilrogan (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Led, ridden approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Petit Lord (11-8) at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (3) gf in Nov.
Atouchbetweenacara (IRE) 3-1fav (11-11) Held up in touch, headway 7th, led 5 out, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Mylord Collonges (10-12) by 7l, 15 ran.
Hydromatic (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased winner until after 9th, ridden next, weakened before 11th, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Island Flyer (10-11) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Kedgeree 9-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 13, 13l behind Ouragan De Prairie (10-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Great Character (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) Held up, hampered 2nd, steady headway 11th, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 10, 26l behind Jolejoker (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Comber (IRE) 10-3fav (10-6) Mid-division, ridden and headway 13th, challenging when not fluent last, kept on to lead line, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Basic Fact (11-1) by a shd, 11 ran.
Jim Edwards (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Towards rear, stayed on from 4 out, 5th of 16, 14l behind Never So Blue (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Dec.
Tosula 9-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 8th, hit 3 out, soon ridden, ran on flat to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Mondial Jack (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.
