led 2nd, all of 12 lengths clear 8th, blundered 15th, jumped right last, unchallenged
led, headed 2nd, chased easy winner, outpaced from 8th
chased leaders, jumped slowly 11th, soon tailed off, plugged on
Charlie Mann's GAORA Lane missed an intended engagement at Leicester on Wednesday as the ground was considered too quick but conditions here should be ideal for the son of Anshan, who can go one better than when narrowly beaten by Too Forward at Wincanton last month, with the main dangers rated as Cool Roxy and Victorias Groom. Lucy Wadham's gelding won well here last month and has solid claims if able to reproduce that form again but the eight-year-old disappointed at Warwick last week and he now looks best watched. Neil King's Pairc Na Gcapall has given little sign of encouragement in recent starts and would probably want faster ground to show his best so a bigger threat is likely to come from Cool Roxy. The 13-year-old ran better here last time and he has to be considered with ground conditions to suit but he seems a shade high in the weights at present and a safer option looks to be Gaora Lane, who gets the vote.
Victorias Groom (GER) 6-1 (10-6) Held up, soon in touch, outpaced from 13th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 7l behind Piraya (10-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs.
Cool Roxy 16-1 (11-7) Led to 2nd, chased leaders, lost place 8th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 6, 13l behind Strawberry (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Gaora Lane (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Made most until narrowly headed 5 out, 3 lengths 2nd and looking held when left in lead 3 out, joined 2 out, kept on gamely from last, led last strides, 2nd of 9, hd behind Too Forward (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Pairc Na Gcapall (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) In touch, hit 8th, dropped rear 12th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
