held up, blundered 3rd, pulled up before next
mid-division, some headway 5 out, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, led 5th, ran on
prominent when mistake 1st, settled, headway 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed after 3rd, ridden and weakened 4 out
held up, effort 3 out, chased winner last, always held
behind from 4th
led, headed 2nd, led again after 3rd, headed 5th, behind from 7th
in touch, ridden to chase winner 8th, weakened 2 out
Nonrunner
Handy Option has to be feared in a weak race but we'll take Top Dawn to come up trumps with Green Bramble and Thievery others for the short-list and Outclass not dismissed. The selection had shown remarkably little prior to his latest run but he's handicapped accordingly and it was just his third start for his current yard. The form reads well in the context of this race and he should go close if that run wasn't a flash in the pan. Green Bramble won well enough at Folkestone to merit serious consideration under a penalty but, as that was only his second career success in twenty six starts, it would buck the trends. Handy Option has been well beaten in all three starts over hurdles on soft and heavy but he's a well bred son of Supreme Leader who may be seen to better effect handicapping over fences on better ground. The market should point the way but Top Dawn is preferred at this stage.
Handy Option (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 7th of 13, well behind Or Bleu (11-4) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Ground Breaker 33-1 (11-0) Held up, chased leaders 7th, in 5th and ridden when fell 2 out in race won by Spiritual Society (11-1) at Southwell 2m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Feb, 10 ran.
Green Gamble 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb beating Forfeiter (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Freedom Frix 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division until weakened after 7th, 5th of 17, 31l behind Aheadofhistime (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Senior Whim 28-1 (11-1) Mid-division until weakened after 7th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Aheadofhistime (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb, 17 ran.
Thievery 5-2fav (11-5) Towards rear, headway 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Littleton Aldor (10-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
Outclass 20-1 (10-12) Soon behind, reminder after 4th, tailed off 6th, went poor 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 6, well behind My Petra (10-10) at Hereford 2m mrs beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Kinkeel (IRE) 7-4 (10-0) Led and jumped right, headed 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 4, 25l behind Billesey (10-10) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb.
Top Dawn (IRE) 11-1 (9-11) Always prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, every chance before last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Mondial Jack (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.
Mycenean Prince (USA) 14-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, weakened 3 out, 7th of 15, 18l behind Rowdy Yeats (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Sept.
