held up towards rear, headway after 7th, led after 4 out, clear from next
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along 8th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, pushed along 7th, in 5th when fell 8th
tracked leader, with leader 5th, led 5 out, headed after next, weakened 3 out
led, headed 5 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased winner approaching 3 out, one pace and no chance with winner
No prolific winners in the line-up so the most tentative of selections goes to MISTER WISEMAN ahead of Kercabellec and Maurisca. The selection is a course winner and was unlucky to bump into Ray Mond last time out, a horse that is racing far below his true level. There is nothing of that calibre in this race and with ground conditions to suit he looks sure to run well off this favourable mark of 95. Maurisca is consistent and he ran well behind Overlaw here last month, Ormus is back up in trip but the only attractive aspect of his profile is his handicap mark, whilst the step up in trip may suit Tranos who is less exposed over fences than many. Keen Warrior's profile is hit-and-miss but he is another who resides on a tidy mark, whilst Sam Cruise cannot be ignored at a track his local trainer targets. Course and distance winner Kercabellec is not the most reliable, and it perhaps speaks volumes about the quality of the race that he is not discounted from out of the weights, however the tentative vote goes to Mister Wiseman.
Maurisca (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Chased winner throughout, ridden outpaced by winner 3 out, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Overlaw (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Mister Wiseman 7-1 (11-2) Chased winner throughout, blundered 6th, ridden and no impression soon after 3 out, kept on to hold 2nd, 2nd of 6, 18l behind Ray Mond (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf.
Ormus 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 8, 24l behind Drever Route (11-9) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Tranos (USA) 28-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, outpaced 7th, headway 3 out, kept on, no impression, 4th of 8, 12l behind Drever Route (11-9) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Keen Warrior 14-1 (11-8) Towards rear, went 3rd from 5 out, pushed along next, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Kinkeel (9-13) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Sam Cruise 6-1 (10-12) Led and soon clear, reduced lead 9th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened bend approaching last, 5th of 7, 25l behind Sarahs Gift (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Made most until headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 42l behind Shropshirelass (10-9) at Stratford 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar.
Kercabellec (FR) 25-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, good headway to lead 8th, clear approaching 12th, 6 lengths up when fell 13th, in a race won by Tanners Court (11-7) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 10 ran.
