held up last, headway on outside 3 out, ridden before next, no impression
took keen hold, chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, every chance when hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
held up in last trio, steady headway after 4 out, in touch next, soon ridden, no extra before last
held up in touch in mid-division, headway to track leaders from 4th, travelling well 2 out, led last, soon quickened clear, easily
made most, set steady pace, quickened tempo approaching 3 out, soon joined, ridden after 2 out, headed last, not pace of winner, lost 2 places close home
chased leader, challenged 5th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next
chased leaders, challenged and upsides 3 out, every chance next, stayed on same pace from last
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway after 3 out, went 2nd ridden and every chance next, stayed on same pace from last
August's C&D winner Snow Blizzard has been well beaten off higher marks since, but U B Carefull's only win to date came over these hurdles and he arrives on the back of a creditable second over fences. Lava Lamp has solid claims off his current mark and has superior form to Strongly Suggested, but Heron Bay and Vivarini will need to improve on their victories in plating company to figure. Top weight NUMIDE scored off a higher mark at this time last year and, after showing signs of a resurgence when runner-up at Sandown last time, gets the nod.
Numide (FR) 50-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 2 out, 5th when hit last, stayed on flat, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Top Smart (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Feb.
Snow Blizzard (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 14, 28l behind Big Easy (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
U B Carefull 9-4 (10-12) Held up in touch, led 9th, stumbled on bend before 4 out, soon pressed, headed narrowly before 4 out, soon led again, headed 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Tiger O'Toole (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd.
Lava Lamp (GER) 4-11fav (11-5) Led, not fluent 5th, pushed along and headed approaching 3 out, ridden before next, not fluent when beaten last, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Sohappyharry (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Strongly Suggested 8-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden and headway 4 out, no impression after, 4th of 12, 41l behind Open Hearted (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) gs in Feb.
Lamps 9-2 (10-3) Ran in snatches, chased leaders, outpaced in 4th 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never on terms, 4th of 9, 15l behind Dream Esteem (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Heron Bay 16-1 (11-7) Always in rear, last of 10, well behind Olympian (11-0) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sep.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, hung right before last, no impression on leaders flat, edged right towards finish, 6th of 14, 7l behind Benbens (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Vivarini 6-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 7, well behind Jomade (10-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
