chased clear leader until 7th, soon ridden and beaten, left remote 2nd last
held up 4th, left 3rd 2nd, went 2nd 7th, close on leader approaching 4 out, led and hit 3 out, left well clear last
led, soon well clear, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, 2 lengths down, rallying when fell last
tracked leaders, blundered badly and unseated rider 2nd
Brave Villa has been running well of late in defeat and while he holds no secrets with regard to his handicap mark, he is the type that could poach a soft lead here and take some catching. While he has won when held up previously, front running tactics appear the key to Brave Villa and an uncontested lead is likely. Oiseau De Nuit has found the winning thread since being switched to fences. A winner off 93 on Boxing Day he received a 9lb increase in the ratings but just held on last time out. He might just be high enough in the weights and with that in mind we will oppose him. A question mark hangs over the participation of Coach Lane after he ran on Saturday, finishing runner up behind Major Euro, folding tamely in the closing stages when looking all over a winner. He is not the strongest of finishers and had quite a hard race on Saturday. Brave Villa is a tentative choice to upset the odds.
Azulejo (FR) 200-1 (11-10) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Denman (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (1) gs, 12 ran.
Coach Lane 3-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 4th until 9th, regained lead 4 out, clear 2 out, headed flat, weakened, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Major Euro (9-11) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Brave Villa (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Led, headed briefly 3rd, headed 7th, led again after 4 out, headed 3 out and weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 8l behind Green Gamble (10-1) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 5-2fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance 2 out, led last, kept on well under pressure, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan beating Millenium Mag (10-0) by a shd, 10 ran.
