held up in touch, chased leading pair 7th, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner
made virtually all, jumped big 2nd, joined when not fluent 7th, drew readily clear from 2 out, eased flat, comfortably
tracked winner, challenged 7th, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, outpaced next, no chance with winner when lost 2nd after 2 out, weakened before last
chased leading pair, lost place 7th, soon struggling and ridden, stayed on to go moderate 3rd last, no impression
Cranky Corner won over 2m1f at Sedgefield before his recent poor effort over a longer trip on fast ground at Doncaster. Today's conditions should be more to his liking, while Desperate Dex is enjoying a new lease of life under Ferdy Murphy's care and the veteran won for the fourth time in six starts at Huntingdon in January. This looks much tougher though and he'll do well to get the better of Premier Dane and RAYSROCK. The former need only reproduce December's third to L'Accordioniste at Cheltenham to take this, but there are doubts if he can do so on today's soft ground and Lucinda Russell's chaser is preferred after finishing a good second over C&D last month.
Mighty Massini (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Towards rear when mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Wicklow Lad (10-2) at Navan 2m 1f hcp chs 0-123 hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Raysrock (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Towards rear, headway 5th, chased winner before 3 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-12) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Cranky Corner 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 7th of 8, 20l behind Qianshan Leader (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Desperate Dex (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place and pushed along after 2nd, went 3rd and closed after 3 out, 3 lenghts down last, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan beating Guns of Love (10-9) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Premier Dane (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by James De Vassy (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
