chased leaders, awkward jump 2nd, not fluent 7th and soon lost ground, tailed off
close up, left in 2nd home turn, pushed along to chase leader thereafter, held and no impression from 2 out
tracked front pair, left in lead home turn, nudged along before 3 out, in command from 2 out, pushed out from last, easily
led, lost action and pulled up quickly home turn
not fluent 1st in rear, pushed along after 6th, tailed off and struggling back straight, soon pulled up
mistake 1st in rear, not fluent 2nd, behind from 5th, lost touch and plugged on for remote 3rd, tailed off
Empty Quarter ran his best race in a bumper here in January 2020 but hasn’t been seen since the summer of that year. Winning point-to-pointer Gold Miner had some promising form over hurdles at the backend of 2020 but was never travelling when pulled up at Uttoxeter last month, though is expected to be better for the run. LOUGHDERG ROCCO won a point last April before a very good run for new connections at Newcastle in November. He was outclassed but not disgraced in a Cheltenham Grade 2 later and looks the one to beat. Maccloud, another winner between the flags, ran easily his best race over timber at Wetherby last time and should do best of the remainder.
Empty Quarter 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out until before 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 23 1/4l behind Blakeney Point (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) gd in Jul.
Gold Miner 6-1 (11-6) Mid division, pushed along and weakened home turn, pulled up after 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Loughderg Rocco (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden after 2 out, gradually faded, 5th of 6, 22 1/4l behind Blazing Khal (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Maccloud (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Tracked clear leader, led and jumped left from 3 out, hung left and headed run in, no extra, 3rd of 9, 4 3/4l behind Global Agreement (11-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Miss Valentine (IRE) 300-1 (10-13) Held up rear of mid-division, struggling 4 out, well behind 3 out, mistake last, 10th of 11, dist behind Livelifetothemax (11-6) at Ayr 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Star Of Markinch (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place from 2f out, last of 8, 17l behind Walk In The Storm (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (5) pol in Jan.
