chased winner, hit 6th, lost place next, weakening when jumped left last
tracked leaders, chased winner 7th, driven and hit 3 out and next, no impression last, lost 2nd flat
chased leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up, outpaced 4 out, never on terms
made all, 7 lengths clear when blundered 2 out, stayed on, eased near finish, easily
Just about the pick of these on the flat, Iron Man showed promise behind the useful Racing Demon on his chasing debut and is entitled to come on for that run so gets the vote ahead of Portavadie and Loulou Nivernais. The selection finished tired at Sandown but most of Howard Johnson's runner shave improved for their first start of the season so there is every reason to believe that the son of Video Rock will improve sufficiently for the run and it will take a good one to beat him. Malcolm Jefferson's Portavadie is the obvious danger having shown progressive form over hurdles before making a winning debut over fences at Newcastle last month. The seven-year-old was unable to defy his penalty at Haydock subsequently and he may struggle to give weight away to the selection today. Loulou Nivernais also has a penalty to carry for his win at Sedgefield and is likely to find at least one too good again. Italiano has disappointed over fences so far and may be best watched, while Great As Gold is hard to recommend on recent evidence. Iron Man takes a drop in class though and he gets the vote to open his chasing account.
Loulou Nivernais (FR) 7-1 (10-8) Led to 3rd, led again 6 out, mistake and headed 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Vigoureux (10-7) at Wetherby 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Portavadie 9-4 (11-12) Held up in 3rd, not fluent 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Le Volfoni (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov chs (C) sft in Dec.
Great As Gold (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 44l behind Russian Sky (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec.
Italiano 11-1 (11-3) In touch when hampered and lost place 8th, behind when pulled up in race won by Welcome To Unos (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gd, 12 ran.
Political Cruise 100-1 (10-9) Held up, effort when blundered 9th, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Armaguedon (11-2) at Newcastle 2m nov chs (3) sft.
The Associate (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always behind, 6th of 10, well behind Roman Ark (11-3) at Ayr 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft.
Iron Man (FR) 15-2 (10-7) Raced in 4th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened under pressure before next, 4th of 7, 38l behind Racing Demon (11-10) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Dec.
Delaware Trail 10-1 (12-0) pulled up in race won by Duggleby (11-7) at Whitwell On Hill 3m ptp gd in Apr, 10 ran.
