held up in touch, chased leaders 6th, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
prominent, pushed along 4 out, chased winner next, ridden and kept on same pace approaching last
held up towards rear, headway halfway, challenged 4 out, ridden next, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leader, led 5th, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led before next, clear last, pushed out, comfortably
led to 5th, soon lost place, kept on from 3 out, never troubled leaders
held up and behind, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened 2 out
Huka Lodge gets the call here ahead of Caesar's Palace, Ireland's Own, A Few Bob Back and Minster Shadow. The selection was raised eight pounds for a good effort at Haydock in December, but has now been dropped three for a lacklustre effort last time. If you can forgive him that, his best should be good enough to get amongst things today. A course and distance winner, A Few Bob Back got back to winning ways at Market Rasen last time, for which he has been raised six pounds. He'll like the underfoot conditions today and, with the visor retained, can't be ruled out of a good run. Given that the horse that beat him last time has gone on to run well from a higher mark, you can give Minster Shadow a chance, but General Duroc, who won this race last year from a six-pound higher mark, has been very disappointing since. The handicapper seems a little reluctant to drop Abzuson too far at present but, given that he stays well and will like the going, he holds claims. With Skenfrith having been beaten from his revised rating, Caesar's Palace could go well now that he is back to a winning mark, although he has finished behind Minster Shadow on the last two occasions that they have met. Finally, Ireland's Own has also proven himself competitive from around today's mark but, overall, we will give Huka Lodge another chance.
A Few Bob Back (IRE) 11-1 Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, headway to lead approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft beating Trisons Star by 8l, 7 ran.
Minster Shadow 9-2 Prominent, ridden 8th, weakened next, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Sungates at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
General Duroc (IRE) 50-1 Held up in mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 6th, soon behind, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Back Nine at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs, 14 ran.
Abzuson 11-4 Held up towards rear, headway 8th, driven to chase leaders 3 out, ridden next, kept on, 3rd of 8, 8l behind See You There at Carlisle 3m nh nov hdl (E) gs.
Huka Lodge (IRE) 5-1 Slowly away, in rear, headway 8th, went 3rd approaching 13th, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 20l behind Why The Big Paws at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Feb.
Skenfrith 10-1 Tracked leader, every chance when mistake 3 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 15, 23l behind D J Flippance at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft.
Caesar's Palace (GER) 9-2fav Led to 3rd, chased leader, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 12, 18l behind Shazal at Ayr 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs.
Ireland's Eye (IRE) 11-2 Always towards rear, 5th of 8, 32l behind Dere Lyn at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Jan.
