held up, mistake 11th, progress to chase leaders next, ridden 4 out, weakened after 2 out
led, headed 12th, weakened approaching 3 out
with leader, hit 6th, led 12th, clear advantage 3 out, fading when headed last
tracked leaders, hit 8th, mistakes, lost place 13th, weakened approaching next
held up, unseated rider 1st
towards rear, hampered 11th, outpaced 5 out, brief effort 3 out, no further impression
in touch, headway to track leader after 4 out, weakened quickly next
held up, mistake 7th, headway to track leader 4 out, not fluent and edged left and led last, ridden out
Poor jumping has meant that LODGE LANE has disappointed in his last two starts, latterly in the RSA Chase, but Victor Dartnell's gelding had looked one to keep on the right side of following a smart performance when winning at Exeter previously and he may be worth one more chance today, getting the vote ahead of Quickbeam and Fair Point. Charlie Mann's gelding was well held in the National Hunt Chase at the festival but had earlier shown decent and progressive form over fences and he has to be respected. Lucy Wadham's Backbord has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated following a winning start to his chasing career when landing a novices' event at Fakenham in November and he looks best watched. King Jack has disappointed over hurdles of late, while Nick Gifford's Russian Around has given no real sign of encouragement in his two starts over fences. Quickbeam represents the in-form yard of Venetia Williams and has claims on the form shown when successful at Taunton last month but he disappointed at Wincanton after making mistakes last time and preference is for Lodge Lane, who gets the vote in the hope that he can jump better today.
Backbord (GER) 6-1 (11-4) Not fluent, held up in last, closed after 3f out, weakened 2f out, soon hung left, 4th of 6, 13l behind Shining Gale (11-8) at Warwick 3m nov chs (3) gd.
Fair Point (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Mistakes, always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 19, well behind Tricky Trickster (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m amt chs (2) gs.
Lodge Lane (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Not always fluent in rear, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Cooldine (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs, 15 ran.
Quickbeam (IRE) 5-6fav (11-4) Led, headed 10th, hit 12th, mistake 13th, reminders, pecked 16th, weakened 4 out, 2nd of 3, 49l behind Sound Accord (11-4) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft.
Coffee Morning (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Led until after 5th, lost 2nd next, weakened 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Michel Le Bon (11-8) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) gd, 6 ran.
King Jack 10-1 (11-2) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 12th of 14, 33l behind Eleazar (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Knockarron (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, blundered 7th, weakened before 10th and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Temoin (11-0) at Lingfield 3m beg chs (4) sft, 8 ran.
Russian Around (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway 9th, chased leaders 12th, went 2nd 4 out, 3rd and held when blundered last, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Temoin (11-0) at Lingfield 3m beg chs (4) sft.
