always towards rear
led until headed after 4 out, ridden and gradually weakened
mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 9th
behind, headway from 15th to lead 3 out, headed next, ridden and every chance last, driven and kept on one pace flat
mid-division, headway and every chance 3 out, soon led, ridden and kept on under pressure flat
mid-division, close up when fell 15th
always towards rear, held when blundered 4 out
mid-division, hampered 9th, soon lost place, ridden and chased leaders 4 out, no impression
always handy, led after 4 out, headed next, ridden and soon beaten
tracked leader, blundered 4 out, ridden and soon one pace
mid-division, outpaced halfway, ridden and chased leaders 2 out, kept on to go 2nd close home
Nonrunner
SHREWD INVESTOR is selected ahead of Stagecoach Opal and Snowy. The veteran Snowy would be a popular winner who has gone well here in the past but his best recent efforts have all come at Musselburgh and he may have to settle for a minor role. Stagecoach Opal is better than he showed at Sandown and could get involved but he's essentially handicapped up to his best and, as a consequence, may need the cards to fall in his favour in order to score. Raining Horse has claims on his best form but hasn't shown that this term whilst Guns And Butter has yet to prove that he sees out this trip but has claims if lasting home. There are no such concerns with Shrewd Investor who remains feasibly handicapped following his welcome return to form at Haydock. He's got relatively few miles on the clock so is open to improvement as a staying chaser. He does have to prove that his latest run wasn't just a one-off but he has sound claims here if resuming his upward curve so Shrewd Investor gets the nod.
Montevideo 20-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened from 16th, tailed off, 12th of 19, well behind Jass (10-9) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Natiain 15-2 (10-11) Refused to race refused to race in race won by Tom's Toybox (10-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 10 ran.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 3 out, clear last, ridden out, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Ngong Hills (10-11) by 5l, 8 ran.
Le Roi Rouge (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Towards rear, beaten from 7th, 8th of 10, well behind Tom's Toybox (10-9) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Or de Grugy (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Led until headed after 6th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 18l behind Flake (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Stagecoach Opal 6-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden, weakened 13th, jumped right after, 6th of 7, 16l behind Fresh Air And Fun (10-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Raining Horse (FR) 7-1 (10-2) Mid-division, steady headway after 4 out, outpaced 2 out, led to 5th, no impression when fell at the last in race won by Risk Runner (10-13) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd, 14 ran.
Mr Preacher Man 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, outpaced 5th, weakened 9th, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Brave Rebellion (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
Nobel (FR) 66-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, hit 9th, soon lost place, tailed off from 3 out, last of 11, well behind De Boitron (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Scarvagh Diamond (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Always behind, ridden from 4 out, soon beaten, last of 5, 37l behind Bold Ransom (11-3) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Snowy (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, led 5 out, stayed on strongly, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Stravaigin (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Guns And Butter (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Held up, headway halfway, led 4 out, headed after next, lost 2nd last, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Johnny Roche (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
