led, headed and not fluent approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, chased leaders 7th, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, pushed along 4 out, no impression from next
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased winner and not fluent approaching last, kept on, no impression
held up towards rear, chased leaders 2nd, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, disputed lead 3 out, led approaching next, clear approaching last
held up mid-division, pushed along approaching and lost place 4 out
tracked leader, led approaching and hit 4 out, headed approaching next, weakend approaching 2 out
held up behind, headway on outer 4 out, disputed lead 3 out, soon headed, not fluent 2 out, hit and weakened last
held up, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
ACCORDING TO PETE tops the shortlist here although strong challenges from Spring Breeze and Quentin Collonges will make life tough. The selection has been running well in the big handicaps so far this season, with a third in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock most recently. He returns to hurdles today off a slightly higher mark than his chase rating but with the ground and track not a problem he is expected to run well. Wendel steps up in trip today and he has been given a break since disappointing at Aintree in November, Squadron's comeback run behind Alfie Sherrin reads well, whilst this good ground may help Galaxy Rock last home over this longer distance. Always Waining may be using this for fitness ahead of a crack at Aintree in April, whilst Quentin Collonges bumped into a smart one last time out and he is considered despite a lofty looking mark of 125. Spring Breeze has earned his rise in the weights of late after two wins in the north at the end of last year. Some outings at the testing all-weather track of Southwell should have put him spot on for this assignment. Description has been struggling with his jumping over fences so is returned to hurdles, whilst Berwick Law and Dan Buouy step up in class. Both race from out of the weights but the former especially is interesting as he steps back up in trip although he has had his injury problems. A tough handicap riddle to solve, but the answer may lie with According To Pete.
According To Pete 6-1 (10-5) In touch, not fluent 3rd, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 12, 17l behind Our Vic (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Wendel (GER) 9-4fav (11-12) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, regained lead approaching 6th, mistake 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 8, well behind John Forbes (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Squadron 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division on inside, steady headway 3 out, chased winner 2 out, weakened last, 9th of 18, 20l behind Alfie Sherrin (11-4) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, no impression, 8th of 14, 24l behind Gold Award (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Always Waining (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, in 4th when fell 8th, in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, weakened 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 4th of 13, 37l behind Voramar Two (10-12) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Spring Breeze 11-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader, left in lead, challenged 3 out, ridden and stayed on well from next, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating Grand Bay (10-4) by 4l, 7 ran.
Description (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) With leader when fell 1st, in a race won by Poker De Sivola (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov stks (3) gs in Feb, 5 ran.
Berwick Law (IRE) 5-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 3rd of 11, 14l behind Iconoclast (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Dan Buoy (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, tailed off from 8th, 7th of 12, well behind Peters Star (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
