close up, slightly hampered 2nd, disputing 2nd from 6th, chased winner from 13th, hit next and ridden, no impression from 3 out
close up ridden 12th, not fluent and driven after next, soon struggling, tailed off 13th, pulled up soon after
chased winner, hit 4th, disputing 2nd from 6th until 13th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders until fell 2nd
led and soon clear, not fluent and reduced lead 7th, not fluent 9th, drew away again 3 out, hit 2 out, unchallenged
Nonrunner
CLOUD NINE is preferred to the bang in-form Holmwood Legend and Bradford Boris. There are only the six runners in this line-up but it's a really warm race with the penalised pair, Holmwood Legend and Bradford Boris, both looking capable of reaching further heights whilst there should be more to come from Cloud Nine. Power Shared has had just the two runs over fences and could improve whilst the consistent I'm A Legend should run his race but he looks vulnerable. Bradford Boris is 4lbs well-in following a very easy win at the start of the month and there's no reason to think that he won't be every bit as effective on this quicker ground. Holmwood Legend isn't as well treated but he's in equally fine form having been transformed by the larger obstacles but this is his toughest task to date. That pair should form the market and may mean that Cloud Nine is a tempting enough price to side with as he does have something to prove. He has travelled well on both starts for this yard but his stamina appeared to give out close home last time and this drop back in trip should suit. He looks unlikely to get into the weights for his Cheltenham Festival entry but Cloud Nine can gain a measure of compensation here.
Holmwood Legend 5-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, good headway on inner 5th, went 2nd next, led 8th, made rest, 1 length ahead when left 6 lengths clear 3 out, hit next, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft beating Local Present (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
I'm A Legend 9-1 (10-13) Held up, closed 10th, mistake 12th, mistake 4 out, soon outpaced, blundered 2 out, went modest 4th before last, 4th of 8, 32l behind Pickamus (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Manmoon (FR) 10-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 17, 50l behind Sound Stage (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
Cloud Nine (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Held up, headway after 4th, every chance 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Morning Moment (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gf in Dec.
Bradford Boris 4-1fav (10-12) Led until mistake 5th, led next until 7th, led 8th until after 10th, led after 4 out, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy beating American World (11-9) by 11l, 10 ran.
Power Shared (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Mid-division, hampered 7th, outpaced from 10th, left poor 3rd when mistake 3 out, fell last, in a race won by Tokpela (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
