held up, steady headway from 8th, led on bit approaching 3 out, soon clear, comfortably
soon prominent, led 5th and pecked, headed 8th, soon outpaced, plugged on again from 3 out
tracked leaders, went prominent 7th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from next
behind, struggling when pulled up after 8th
chased leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, 2nd and held when hit 2 out
towards rear, headway 7th, ridden after 9th, soon beaten
led until 5th, prominent, ridden after 7th, soon beaten
chased leaders until 6th, ridden after 9th, weakened after 4 out
mid-division, headway 4th, led 8th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, gradually faded
held up, headway 8th, ridden after 4 out, weakened 3 out
River Amora is the pick over Prairie Minstrel, Just Muckin Around and Lorrelini, with Atlantis worth a mention. River Amora won like a good thing here on his last outing in November, although it can be argued that he did not beat much. However, he loves it round here, having also won the corresponding event 12 months ago, and despite now lining up off a 16lb higher mark, he should once again take all the beating. Prairie Minstrel is on a retrieval mission, having had victory snatched from his grasp at Leicester in November when Henry Oliver made the suicidal decision to ease down too soon, resulting in the pair being caught by Lambrini Mist. The jockey picked up a 28-day ban as a result, and will not make the same mistake again today if in the same position. Whether he finds himself challenging is open to question though, as Robin Dickin's charge has not won for around three years, and is not guaranteed to make amends. Just Muckin Around was a fair third at Hereford last time and has won here before, while Lorrelini ran out of steam over further here when third to in-form Alfadora 11-days ago. Atlantis was brushed aside by Nike Walker at Folkestone but showed minor signs of a return to form, and can also be considered for place purposes. The one to be on though is River Amora.
Clearly In Motion (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chasing leaders when unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Hoo La Baloo (12-10) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) sft, 13 ran.
River Amora (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Made all at good pace, mistake 8th, well clear from 4 out, heavily eased run-in, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov beating Clearly In Motion (11-8) by 13l, 6 ran.
Carpet Ride 7-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, promising headway on wide outside approaching 2 out, soon ridden and found nil, 5th of 7, 8l behind Asthefellowsaid (12-1) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn hts chs (6) hvy in Feb.
Prairie Minstrel (USA) 5-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 8th, ridden to lead 3 out, 5 lengths clear flat, eased towards finish, headed post, 2nd of 4, nk behind Lambrini Mist (10-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Just Muckin Around (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, chased leaders 3 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Femme D'avril (10-12) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Lorrelini (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Made most, headed 9th, chased winner after, hit 3 out, lost 2nd soon after, mistake next, 3rd of 6, 18l behind Alfadora (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Atlantis (HOL) 10-1 (11-9) Lest in lead 1st and clear next, reduced lead when slow jumped 5th, driven and headed between last 2, soon no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 6, 22l behind Nike Walker (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb.
Sett Aside 6-1 (9-11) In touch, blundered 3 out, plugged on one pace from next, 4th of 11, 13l behind Lescer's Lad (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Go Pete (NZ) 11-4 (10-2) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Eastern Dagger (9-12) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Mountsorrel (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Held up, headway from 5th, chased leader after 3 out until approaching last, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, well behind Surfboard (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Queen of Song 25-1 (11-2) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 10th of 17, well behind Annie's Answer (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
