behind, some headway 4 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, blundered 10th, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent to halfway, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 11th, effort when hit 3 out, soon ridden 3rd, held, stumbled last, no extra
behind, headway 12th, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, no impression
in touch, hit 11th, soon outpaced, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd 12th, ridden 2 out, kept on, no impression approaching last
led to after 5th, chased leaders until lost place 8th, behind when blundered, unseated rider next
held up on outside, headway, in touch 9th, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders to halfway, no danger after, tailed off
raced keenly, held up behind, blundered 8th, tailed off 3 out
raced keenly in touch, led after 5th, made rest, drew clear from 2 out, pushed out, comfortably
A particularly poor contest where SYCHO FRED is a tentative selection, and by default at that, with Longdale and Naval Attache considered. The selection has never won over a trip as short as this, but he does at least come into this poor contest in decent form. A winner on soft ground at Market Rasen in December, he went well enough when runner-up back at the same track in his follow-up bid earlier in the month and has gone up a further 2lbs as a result. He has won on good to firm ground in the past, so there should be no qualms on that score, and if he can dominate here he might well have enough speed to win. Longdale is another who will act on the ground and he has won over this trip when hurdling at the track in December. It is some time since he last saw a fence in competitive action, but he could be well handicapped and could go close. Naval Attache won a maiden chase over course and distance last time and enjoys a sound surface, but he has been raised a very hefty 20lbs for winning a poor race and on balance he doesn't look up to this. Arctic Ghost has slipped in the weights and would look well handicapped on his old form, so check out the market for any stable confidence, while I'm Your Man is 5lbs higher than his only chase success, which came here, and he doesn't have this judge racing to the bookies. Sycho Fred is a tentative pick.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 11-4fav (10-6) Held up, blundered 4th, headway 10th, chased leaders 3 out, driven and not quicken from last, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind It's Like That (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Sybellius D'artaix (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden and lost touch approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Chrysander (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m 4f clm chs (4) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Arctic Ghost 5-1 (11-11) Held up, behind when blundered and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Snowy (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf, 13 ran.
Longdale 16-1 (11-9) Held up, in 6th and one pace when hit last, 4th of 11, 13l behind Oscar Trial (10-3) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs.
Pistol Basc (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden approaching 4 out, soon headway, no impression, 5th of 12, 13l behind Bamby (10-13) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy.
Naval Attache 10-1 (10-9) Held up, headway and in touch halfway, led 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) gd beating Quincy Des Pictons (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
I'm Your Man 16-1 (11-4) Held up, some headway 5 out, in 6th and one pace when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Garleton (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Physical Force 9-1 (11-1) Chased winner, one pace from 4 out, 4th of 14, 15l behind Ross Leader (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Sands Rising 22-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 10, 21l behind Stagecoach Amber (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Princess Stephanie 50-1 (10-6) Always in rear, 10th of 16, well behind Keyneema (10-10) at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Spivitus 8-1 (10-4) Behind, never on terms, 14th of 15, well behind Mischief Man (10-7) at Catterick 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Dec.
Malt de Vergy (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Raced keenly, in touch when fell at the 6th in race won by Za Beau (11-0) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Nicozetto (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Mitchel Henry (11-9) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Of Course (FR) 28-1 (10-13) Close up on outside, ridden and weakened after 4 out, 14th of 18, well behind Cassius (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
