towards rear, blundered 5 out, some headway and held in 5th when fell 2 out
in touch, went 3rd before 7th, one pace from 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along after 8th and reminder, soon lost place and outpaced, kept on from 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, upsides winner when blundered last, kept on and lost 2nd place near finish
in rear and pushed along, soon struggling, pulled up after 9th
with leader, ridden and outpaced 3 out, went 3rd before last, kept to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
made all, ridden before last, stayed on strongly
The majority of these can easily have question marks placed against their name but the obvious exception is BALLYMAN. He may have reached his twelfth year now and is admittedly not a regular visitor to the winner's circle but he is the one who appears most likely to run his race and deliver a consistent level of performance. Moreover, he is the only course and distance winner in the contest and has a useful record at this venue. Red Anchor is a likely threat as he is extremely lightly-raced under Rules and will surely appreciate reverting to 2m4f after scoring at this trip on the heavy at Lingfield on his penultimate start. As far as the remainder are concerned, it's very much a question of who's on a 'going day' with Rosoff and Lajidaal the most likely to get involved. However, it's a dangerous assumption to make that they will deliver their best.
Flugzeug 33-1 (10-7) Mistake 1st, last trio, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, 30l behind Lough Coi (10-7) at Lingfield 2m mdn chs (5) hvy in Jan.
Red Anchor (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Prominent, led before 3rd, mistake 8th, soon headed, led again after next, headed 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, 34l behind Royal Kicks (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Lajidaal (USA) 14-1 (11-2) Towards rear, struggling and not look keen 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Great's Autrechene (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Rosoff (IRE) 11-4 (9-10) In touch when unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Mr Muddle (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft, 5 ran.
Betheholygobbs (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) In touch, lost place after 8th, well beaten before 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, 50l behind Balinroab (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft.
Ballyman (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Led, ridden after 3 out, mistake 2 out, headed and stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Great's Autrechene (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Doheny Bar (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 13, 9l behind Goochypoochyprader (10-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Feb.
