held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leader, led approaching 7th, mistake and headed after next, kept on
held up, keen, smooth headway 4 out, hit 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden and edged left last
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, under pressure from 2 out, weakened last
led, keen, hit 4th and 6th, headed and weakened approaching 7th, soon lost touch and pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway 6th, ridden and outpaced soon after, kept on moderately
Nonrunner
Granite Man gets the vote in this handicap hurdle with Red Echo and Fountain Crumble rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Scarface and although having a penalty for that win he won in the style of an improver and he is taken to defy the handicapper under conditions that suit. Red Echo rates the main danger as he also won well last time out when beating Nevado but he was all out on that occasion and he looks vulnerable under his penalty. Fountain Crumble would have a chance on his best form but he has not progressed as expected and is one to have reservations about. Of the remainder Lysander looks to be improving but he looks weighted up to his best and with this in mind for the winner we return to Granite Man.
Lysander (GER) 6-1 (9-13) Mid-division, headway 8th, close 4th when slipped up 3 out in race won by Stagecoach Diamond (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf, 10 ran.
Red Echo (FR) 8-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway and left 3rd 7th, ridden after 3 out, driven to lead 2 out, jumped left last, all out, won at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Apr beating Navado (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Fountain Crumble 10-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 5th, headway approaching 7th, weakened and mistake 3 out, 7th of 16, 38l behind Atlantic Jane (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Sun Hill 66-1 (10-9) In rear, effort 3 out, some progress until weakened flat, 8th of 16, 23l behind dhtrs Smokey Mountain (10-11) & Lysander (10-11) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Jacks Jewel (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Led, clear approaching 4th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened last, 8th of 12, 20l behind Annie Fleetwood (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf.
Joizel (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway 7th, chased leader 11th, led 12th to approaching 3 out, close 2nd when fell at the last in race won by Matthew Muroto (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gf in Apr, 7 ran.
Granite Man (IRE) 7-4fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 6th, slipped on bend approaching 7th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, led approaching last, ridden out, won at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (5) gf beating Scarface (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Terramarique (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, blundered 12th, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 11, 10l behind Chancers Dante (9-7) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Feb.
