led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, mistake 13th, weakened before 4 out
held up mid-division, headway after 5 out, led 3 out, hit last, headed run-in, kept on
held up mid-division, headway 5 out, went 2nd 4 out, every chance 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, mistake 12th, headway after 5 out, kept on
tracked leader, lost place 5 out, soon in rear
held up in rear, headway and switched right before 3 out, led run-in, kept on
tracked leaders early, soon mid-division, headway to go 2nd after 5 out, ridden before next, weakened before 2 out
Nonrunner
The jury is out on Rackham Lerouge but quicker going could spark a revival in Estates Recovery while any market interest in the potentially well treated Fairoak Lad would have to be taken seriously. Theatre Diva is something of a course specialist here while Cootehill won over a shorter trip at Leicester in December having finished second over C&D previously when MARAAFEQ was fifth. The bottom weight didn't show much in three runs before Christmas but Venetia Williams' stable is in much better form now and it would be no surprise to see her C&D winner bounce back to form today.
Estates Recovery (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Pressed leader until 6th, lost place 8th, behind 3 out, 6th of 8, 37l behind Houblon Des Obeaux (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Fairoak Lad (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Held up in 6th, riddden and struggling in rear 11th, mistake next, went poor 5th before 4 out, hit next and not fluent 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 7, 13l behind Gullible Gordon (11-8) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Oct '10.
Cootehill (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) In touch, chased leading pair 3 out, challenged last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead narrowly flat, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Dec beating Forty Five (11-1) by nk, 14 ran.
Rackham Lerouge (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Tended to jump left, mistake 1st, in rear, tailed off 13th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Fruity O'Rooney (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
Theatre Diva (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, jumped left 7th, mistakes 11th and 13th, never on terms with leaders, 6th of 13, 17l behind Painter Man (9-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.
Checkerboard (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, 9th of 13, well behind Mostly Bob (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Drumbaloo (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 4th, no impression on leaders and wandered before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 12l behind Mountainous (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Maraafeq (USA) 12-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, behind when brought down 7th, in a race won by Strongbows Legend (11-3) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Roseneath (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Refused to race, in a race won by Midnight Appeal (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb, 13 ran.
