held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, no impression
in rear, struggling from 3rd, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened after 5th, tailed off approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, led approaching 6th, clear approaching 2 out, hit last driven out
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression from next
held up, pushed along after 5th, soon struggling, tailed off, pulled up before
led, pushed along after 5th, headed approaching 6th, chased winner, hit last, one pace
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Having run well for a long time at Sandown on his last start we'll side with COMPRIMARIO in a tight Handicap Hurdle ahead of Near The Water, who needs to bounce back to form while Spider Boy could go well off bottom weight. In the end the pick was really well held at the Esher venue but this is of course a lot easier and with the step down in trip also likely to be a plus he can get back to winning ways. Near The Water was below par on his last performance but previous efforts suggest that he's better than that and if back on song he is a live contender. Spider Boy has been around for ages but still loves to set the fractions. He showed he stil has the talent to win a race at this level with his run last time when four pounds higher in the handicap. Spare Me might be another for the list after a better run last time but with most of these having something to prove we side with Comprimario who carries the least amount of negatives.
William Bonney (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, fell 9th, in a race won by Soixante (11-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Near The Water (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Raced wide, held up and always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Maraafeq (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Widely Accepted (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, blundered 2nd, driven and struggling after 6th, tailed off and pulled up next, in a race won by Senor Shane (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Spare Me 25-1 (10-9) Chased clear leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, headed flat, kept on, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Posh Emily (10-7) at Sandown 2m Am hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Beat The Rap (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Qaspal (11-5) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Feb.
Sun Quest 20-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace and no impression, 9th of 13, 41l behind Sir Harry Cool (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Harcourt (USA) 33-1 (10-2) In touch, chased leaders after 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Ciceron (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Comprimario (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Led, headed well before 2 out, soon weakened, hampered and eased, pulled up before last, in a race won by Qaspal (11-2) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Daring Approach (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, jumped left and led 2nd, headed after next, weakened 4th, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Tom O'tara (9-11) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Spider Boy 18-1 (9-7) Raced keenly in mid-division, driven 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 15, 11l behind Akarshan (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Forget It 8-1 (10-11) Close up, ridden and struggling before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Salden Licht (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec, 18 ran.
E Major 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway after 7th, challenged from 3 out, no extra final 100 yards, lost 2nd last strides, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Festival Dreams (9-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
