in touch, lost place before 5th, closed 11th, chased winner approaching 3 out, hard ridden and held between last 2, switched right after last and soon left with every chance, held near finish
mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 9th, chased winner 11th, mistake 4 out, relegated to 3rd when fell 3 out
mistakes, prominent, raced keenly jumped right 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, jumped left 1st, headway when mistake 11th, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, raced keenly, mistakes 3rd and 5th, not fluent 11th, struggling 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, dropped rear after 10th, no chance from 13th
in touch, hampered 4th and 10th, stumbled 11th, mistake 14th, beaten before 4 out, not keen when mistake 3 out
chased winner to 5th, remained in touch, hampered 10th, held between last 2, left with chance flat, held towards finish
jumped right, made all, clear between last 2, hung badly left to paddock exit after last and soon hard pressed, found extra near finish
held up towards rear, mistake 11th, ridden after 12th, headway next, weakened 3 out
Nonrunner
First-time headgear may perk up a couple of these, most notably SPIRIT OF MAN, and he is selected ahead of Thedreamstillalive, Earcomesannie and the hat-trick seeking Freeline Fury. David Pipe's gelding has a lot of weight to carry so connections will be hoping that the weather stays on the bright side. He was well-supported in the morning of his last run at Lingfield before running a promising race. Now stepped up to three miles for the first time (dam a half sister to 3m2f winner Merlins Dream) and with the cheek-pieces applied to help concentration, he looks an interesting contender. As does Ferdy Murphy's Carryduff, a course and distance winner who has not been out of the placings in three runs at the track. This looks a much tougher race than Freeline Fury has been contesting of late and a 9lb rise in the weights may do for his chance, so a bigger danger might be Thedreamstillalive with the step back up in trip very much in this favour. Just Jaffa tries the blinkers, whilst Earcomesannie has improved for the application of cheek-pieces and a tongue tie and if fit after an absence is unlikely to be far away granted good or faster ground. Valentia Island still has stamina for this trip to prove, whilst Moustique De L'Isle's best runs have come in hock-deep ground. A tricky handicap but one that lights up the card, and we will place our faith in the Spirit Of Man.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up, pushed along 8th, ridden 10th, behind from 12th, 5th of 7, 34l behind Mizen Raven (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Spirit of Man (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up, ridden along after 8th, driven into 3rd soon after 9th, no impression from 3 out, beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Killard Point (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
Just Jaffa (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd, pushed along after 10th, some headway 12th, weakened 14th, 9th of 18, well behind Kitski (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Valentia Island (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden and hit 2 out, no impression soon after, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Sesame Rambler (10-8) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Carryduff 17-2 (10-12) Held up when badly hampered and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Montevideo (11-11) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Moustique de L'Isle (FR) 33-1 (11-7) 11th of 17, well behind Freeline Fury (11-1) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb.
See The View (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, headway 12th, outpaced before 14th, not in contention after, 5th of 18, 19l behind Kitski (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Crank Hill 8-1 (9-9) Held up behind, headway after 13th, ridden approaching 17th, 5th and beaten when pulled up 4 out in race won by Teeming Rain (11-1) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 14 ran.
Superrollercoaster 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along 10th, reminders and lost place next, soon beaten, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Stormont Dawn (10-8) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy.
Ayurveda 14-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear and fell at the 11th in race won by Freeline Fury (11-4) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs, 12 ran.
Thedreamstillalive (IRE) 15-2 (10-5) Led, headed 10th, stayed challenging, chased winner from 3 out, one pace from next, no impression, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Busy Isit (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Earcomesannie (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up when fell at the 4th in race won by Stagecoach Opal (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Freeline Fury 5-1 (11-4) In touch until lost place 9th, headway after 17th, ridden after 5 out, stayed on dourly, led flat, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs beating Change Agent (10-0) by 1l, 12 ran.
Sandymac (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, took closer order 7th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 10, well behind Leo McGarry (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
