prominent, chasing group, lost place 5th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on under pressure to go poor 3rd approaching last, no impression
led, headed before 3 out, weakened next
held up, out paced 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, hit 5th, headway 4 out, led before next, clear when not fluent last, comfortably
prominent chasing group, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden, kept on same pace, no chance winner
held up, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened 2 out
A tough race in spite of the lack of numbers and Blackergreen is narrowly preferred to Roschal. Sue Smith's charge was quietly fancied prior to his most recent run but never travelled on that day and was sensibly pulled up when it became apparent that all chance was lost. Proven on the surface, he has to have a decent chance of compensation. Richard Johnson should know all about Roschal as he used to partner the horse when with Philip Hobbs. He put up a pleasing effort on his first run for new connections and appears to appreciate cheekpieces. What'sonyournmind is the real eyecatcher in the race. He won at Navan on bottomless ground last year and could be well-in if he puts up a return to that level of form. Times Up Barney put his best effort on the racecourse at Haydock but that really isn't saying a lot. Em's Royalty has failed to complete on his last three starts. Master Of The Ward had decent bumper form and has been markedly dropped in grade. A real headscratcher that looks likely to go to Blackergreen.
Em's Royalty 28-1 (10-12) Prominent, outpaced 9th, tailed off from 11th pulled up 2 out in race won by Pass Me By (11-6) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Roschal (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Led, soon clear until 4th, not fluent next, ridden approaching 3 out, headed run-in, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Kirkside Pleasure (11-10) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Times Up Barney 100-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed after 4 out, ridden and soon outpaced, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Cloudy Lane (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Blackergreen 4-1fav (11-12) Behind, reminders 11th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Move Over (10-10) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs, 14 ran.
What'sonyourmind (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Pushed along in rear after 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Abraham Smith (10-11) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Master of The Ward (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Always behind, 5th of 7, well behind Denman (11-13) at Bangor 3m nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
