in rear, mistakes, tailed off and pulled up 14th
chased leaders, ridden 10th, soon well behind and fell
prominent, ridden 14th, plugged on from next
in touch, ridden 15th, well behind in 4th when pulled up before last
in touch, ridden and lost place 13th, tailed off and unseated rider 4 out
in touch, led 10th, ridden out
led, ridden and headed 10th, driven and kept on from 2 out
The consistent Guydus deserves a change of fortune but he's still a maiden over fences after 10 starts and hasn't proved himself on ground this fast. Delganny Gunner is another who seems more at home on ground with plenty of give while Pocket Aces has gone badly out of form despite a massive drop in the weights. Venetian Lad and Ballyvoneen are moderate in the extreme though have run well over the C&D recently but a chance is taken on ABSOLUTE SHAMBLES, three times a winner over hurdles last summer and able to race from a massive 23lb lower mark over fences.
Pocket Aces (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 6th, pecked on landing 9th, mistake 14th and dropped to rear, 7th of 9, well behind Reach For The Top (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Venetian Lad 15-2 (11-2) Close up, chased winner 14th, ridden3 out, stayed on one pace, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Brunette'sonly (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Laughing Game 10-1 (10-13) Chased eadrs, went 2nd under pressure after 4 out until weakened before next, 4th of 9, 19l behind Top Benefit (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Whitcombe Spirit 20-1 (10-13) Keen in touch, close 5th when blundered and fell 13th, in a race won by Brunette'sonly (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Delgany Gunner 9-2 (10-3) Chasing leaders when fell heavily 8th, in a race won by Killfinnan Castle (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Guydus (IRE) 4-1fav (9-9) Always prominent, challenged 11th, led after 13th, headed approaching last, stayed on, held flat, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Huckleberry (9-11) at Chepstow 3m Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (5) sft in Mar.
Absolute Shambles 5-1 (10-4) Ran in snatches, jumped slowly 5th, well behind from 4 out, 8th of 10, well behind Just Josie (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Inner Steel (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led when mistake 2nd, headed next, led 4th until 10th, lost place when jumped slowly 11th, well behind before 3 out, fell last, in a race won by Saskompliq (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Ballyvoneen (IRE) 3-1fav (10-9) Fell 1st, in a race won by Hever Road (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
