in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to chase winner 3 out, not quicken from last
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, weakened from 4 out
led, hit 3rd, headed 8th, soon lost place, pulled up before 4 out
chased leader, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, led 8th, headed after 4 out, weakened next
held up, chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon ridden, went 3rd approaching 3 out, one pace
Tarabaloo deserves to get her head in front having found just the one too good in each of her last three starts and even having been dropped another pound since her most recent start Richard Guest's mare looks best watched in a race taken to go to MIZEN RAVEN, who is preferred to The Dark Lord. Lucy Wadham's gelding never threatened in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last time but has solid claims on earlier form at Fakenham and he has to be respected on that evidence. Livingonaknifedge is held by The Dark Lord on running at the Norfolk venue in December but Richard Guest's gelding has not been seen since then and there could be more to come from him. Sue Smith has her string in good order at present so her runner Tous Chez has to be respected but it is Mizen Raven that gets the vote. Tim Vaughan's gelding comes into this in good form having won well at Ludlow prior to losing no caste in defeat behind Fire And Rain at Ascot last time and a reproduction of that form may well suffice.
Mizen Raven (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, hit 12th, headway to chase leader 3 out, every chance after 2 out, weakened last, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Fire And Rain (10-6) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Livingonaknifedge (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, under pressure 2 out, soon no impression, 5th of 6, 11l behind The Dark Lord (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Own Line 20-1 (11-3) Chased leader in second, fell 10th, in a race won by Stagecoach Amber (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Tous Chez (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Prominent, raced keenly, went 2nd after 12th until mistake 4 out, soon hung left, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 14l behind Even Flo (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Tarabaloo 10-1 (10-8) Tracked winner, blundered 9th, outpaced 5f out, chased winner approaching 2f out, kept on no impression, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Peter Pole (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Keen Warrior 20-1 (10-12) Held up behind, pulled up before 9th, tailed off, in a race won by Stagecoach Amber (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Behind, some headway 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Nicozetto (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Mar.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Towards rear and wide, mistake 17th, well behind from next, tailed off when pulled before 2 out, in a race won by Russian Trigger (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
