held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, jumped right and bumped 7th, headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, weakened approaching last
led until not fluent 4th, led 7th, headed when mistake 13th, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, bumped 7th, headway 4 out, chased winner after next, ridden and 2 lengths down when mistake last, stayed on
chased leaders, not fluent 11th, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, hampered 13th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
pulled hard, with leader, led 4th, headed 7th, disputing lead when hit 9th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
There have to be doubts surrounding all runners here, but RATE OF KNOTS is suficiently well handicapped to get a tentative vote ahead of Romping Home and Darn Hot. Jonjo O'Neill's mare ran no sort of race at Leicester last time, an effort which represented her form this season, but such was the impressive nature of her novice chase successes she's just worth one last chance as connections have found a very weak race. She acts on a variety of ground and this trip appeals as ideal, so the mare gets the vote ahead of Romping Home. Evan Williams' charge is another who remains very nicely treated on old form but her return following over a year off the track didn't promise much. Still, than run may have blown away enough cobwebs to allow the seven-year-old to take a hand in the finish off 115. Darn Hot was nicely backed before being brought down at the first last time in what was probably a better race than this. If she's able to put that behind her then victory would not come as a surprise despite the fact she remains a maiden, so this lightly-raced sort is preferred to Daraz Rose of the remainder. The last-named came to grief when in the process of running a blinder last time and must enter calculations on the back of that, but she'd previously not looked likely to make a chaser and it remains to be seen if she can repeat that effort. Marigolds Way needs dropping in the weights, Your Night Out rates a doubtful stayer and Delays Expected may have to wait longer for her first success. In a race with more negatives than a photographer's dark room, Rate Of Knots may be able to provide some light.
Rate of Knots (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Held up, in rear, not fluent 6th, behind 12th, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Plum Pudding (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Romping Home (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, some headway 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, well behind Dancing Dik (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Daraz Rose (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, closed 4 out, ridden to challenge when not fluent 2 out, every chance when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Over Sixty (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) sft in Feb, 4 ran.
Darn Hot 5-1 (10-1) Brought down 1st, in a race won by Ringaroses (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Delays Expected (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Chased leaders until weakened 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 15, 45l behind Tara Taylor (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Marigolds Way 40-1 (10-13) Behind, mistake 5th, headway approaching 2 out, kept on flat, 5th of 13, 10l behind Senor Shane (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Your Night Out (FR) 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden into moderate 5th before 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 6th of 15, 37l behind Bangonform (11-11) at Sligo 2m 1f beg chs in Oct.
