led to 2nd, remained prominent, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway after next, led 6th to 7th, ridden approaching 9th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
prominent, led 5th to 6th, led 10th, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, mistake last
held up in rear, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off
held up in rear, pushed along after 8th, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, hampered on bend after next and dropped rear, never dangerous after
mid-division, raced keenly, hampered on bend after 8th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, led after 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last
prominent, raced keenly, led 3rd, mistake and headed 5th, lost place after 8th, rallied 3 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, raced keenly, led 8th, mistake next, headed 10th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, good headway to lead on 5th after 3 out, clear approaching last, easily
led 2nd, headed 3rd, remained handy, led 7th, headed 8th, weakened 3 out
held up, headway 8th, reminders before next, weakened 3 out, tailed off
HEIR TO BE sets a decent standard here, and despite giving plenty of weight away all round, we think he can get the better of main dangers Simple Glory and Capybara. He's won three of his last four outings in similar company, and keeps the blinkers on today, having switched to them from a visor last time out. He may be in the grip of the handicapper now, but we expect him to be well supported again. Forecasts of not being able to repeat previous successes have proved wide of the mark, as he seems as enthusiastic as ever. Capybara has overcome injury to return to the track and switches back to hurdles after being second in a Hexham chase. A winner last time out in this sort of contest, he's now running off a decent mark. Simple Glory may need others to make mistakes; a winner here last time out that was her first success in four years, so could just have been a one-off. Notanotherdonkey is an interesting runner; his first outing for Martin Keighley and first race in a year. He's never shown any great form over hurdles with only three placings from 11 runs to his name. Any support though should be noted, and the yard does OK when they send a horse here. However, it's going to take something special to beat the selection, which is Heir To Be.
Heir To Be 6-1fav (11-11) Made all, clear after 3 out, unchallenged, won at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar beating Macmar (11-3) by 9l, 14 ran.
Orchard King (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leader to approaching 2nd, stayed prominent, weakened 3 out, 4th of 11, 30l behind Outlaw Tom (11-3) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Chased leader, led 2nd to 4th, hit 5th, lost place 6th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 43l behind Ellen Tilley (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Rajam 33-1 (11-2) Held up, weakened 13th, pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Bannister Lane (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Stick Together 15-2 (10-13) Mid-division, struggling 8th, soon behind, tailied off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Freeline Fury (11-1) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb, 17 ran.
Capybara (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden to lead between last 2, headed flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Bellaney Jewel (11-12) at Hexham 4m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Ben Ryan (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Led 2nd to 6th, led approaching 7th, not fluent 9th, soon headed, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 13th of 17, well behind Heir To Be (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Portside (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden along from 6th, hard ridden 3 out, kept on for 3rd flat, 3rd of 17, 8l behind Gunnadoit (10-8) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Notanotherdonkey (IRE) 9-4 (12-5) Prom til outpcd 14, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Caveman (12-5) at Ampton 3m ptp in Jan.
Simple Glory (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, led 9th, headed approaching 2 out, ridden to regain lead approaching last, driven out, won at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Mar beating Well Saved (11-7) by 1l, 16 ran.
Cross Kennon (IRE) 2-5fav (11-6) Held up well in rear, headway on long run to 3 out, went 2nd 3 out, driven, no impression when hit 2 out, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Wondersobright (11-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
Nevada Red 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, fell 5th, in a race won by Gunnadoit (10-8) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
Take Time 28-1 (11-7) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Millitant Man (11-2) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
