always in rear
held up towards rear, headway 5th, chasing leaders when mistake and weakened 2 out (bbv)
held up in touch, hampered 3rd, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, chased winner last, no impression
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to lead 2 out, ridden out
led, mistakes 5 and 6, headed after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
keen in rear, not jump well, hampered 3rd, never a danger
towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden and some progress next, weakened 3 out
in rear, not fluent, stayed on from approaching 3 out
mid-division, slow jump 4th, behind from next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, fading when mistake last
mid-division, ridden and weakened 6th
held up and keen, hampered 3rd, headway 5th, ridden and chasing leaders when blundered 3 out and weakened
mid-division and keen, ridden and weakened when pulled up 3 out (lame)
keen in touch, jumped right 1st, weakened 6th, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent 2nd, fell heavy 3rd
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
L'Oudon should take all the beating ahead of Lunar Crystal, Beechwood and Darn Him. It is a bit surprising to see L'Oudon dropped to this level, as he was asked to tackle decent company over timber before making his chase debut at Taunton in January. The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old was stopped in his tracks by a blunder at the seventh fence that day, and had no chance afterwards, trailing home a well beaten third of eight. Given a break since, connections will fancy their chances of him gaining a confidence-boosting win. Lunar Crystal appears to be the main danger, given that he ran a respectable seventh in the Imperial Cup the other week. Like the selection, he took on good company over timber, and has performed quite well over fences as well. Beechwood's third in a Newton Abbot seller does not look good enough, while Darn Him makes his debut over hurdles after a couple of bumper outings. The market may throw up a springer of course, but we are happy to side with L'Oudon.
Dan's Heir 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along after 5th, lost place from next, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Spring Breeze (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Sonic Anthem (USA) 50-1 (10-12) Led, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 42l behind Pevensey (10-9) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
L'oudon (FR) 5-2 (11-5) In touch, blundered badly 7th, never travelling after, 3rd of 8, 31l behind Always Waining (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Lunar Crystal (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) In rear, ridden when not much room on bend well before 2 out, kept on flat, no chance, 7th of 17, 16l behind Gaspara (10-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) hvy.
Charlie Tango (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 38l behind Red Sun (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f clm hdl (5) gf in Sept.
Darn Him (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Prominent, pushed along 6f out, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 10, 30l behind Seismic Shift (11-2) at Ludlow 2m mdn nhf (5) gd in Nov.
Beechwood 10-3 (10-11) Pulled hard, soon tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon lost pace, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Barella (10-13) at N Abbot 2m 1f sll hdl (5) gd in Jun.
Bathwick Rox (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 1st, 3rd and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Queen Tara (10-4) at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
