towards rear and in touch, took keen early, hit 9th, pushed along before 5 out, weakened before 4 out
led to 3 out, ridden and weakened last
held up in touch, headway 3 out, switched to outer before last, led soon after, kept on well, ridden out
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, pushed along 4 out, never dangerous
tracked leader, hit 8th, led 2 out, ridden and headed after last, one pace
Lord Villez went close when second to Mister Marker over C&D last month, but that's 22 starts over fences now without a win so MILANS MAN is preferred. He never recovered from an early mistake over fences at Southwell last time, but had shaped with promise on his chasing bow at Hexham before that and should improve with experience. Victors Serenade won over timber on his latest start and is making his chasing debut here, but Solway Sam was the best of these over hurdles and is worth noting on his first start over the larger obstacles. Just Unique and King In Waiting are hard to fancy.
Just Unique 66-1 (11-2) Not fluent 3rd, always towards rear, tailed off, 9th of 16, well behind One More Dinar (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Feb.
King In Waiting (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, blundered and fell 5th, in a race won by Mr Syntax (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Lord Villez (FR) 2-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 5th, led again after 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Mister Marker (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chase (4) sft.
Milans Man (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place 14th, behind from 5 out, soon tailed off, last of 5, well behind Hollo Ladies (11-0) at Southwell 3m beg chase (4) gs in Jan.
Solway Sam 28-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hit 4th, headway 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 9th of 12, 39l behind Five Star Wilsham (10-13) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
Victors Serenade (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, led 3 out, not fluent next, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Bounds And Leaps (10-5) by 10l, 12 ran.
