tracked leader, led 4 out until 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly approaching last, still every chance when edged fight flat, no extra towards finish
raced keenly, always prominent, not fluent 2nd, not fluent and hampered 3 out, challenged before next, ridden to lead narrowly approaching last, stayed on well to go clear towards finish
held up in 5th, pulled hard, mistake 1st, closed from 4th, 3 lenghts down in 4th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
led until 4 out, led next until before 2 out, soon beaten
held up in close 4th, dropped to last 4th, jumped right and hampered next, lost touch 4 out
It looks well worth continuing to oppose Franchoek and we'll do so with LORD LARSSON although any of Frankie Anson, Herons Well or Mam Ratagan could go well. Franchoek was a smart hurdler but he has looked anything but a smart performer over fences and seems to lack the confidence for the game. In fairness, he ran much better for much further at Wincanton than he has on his other chase starts in a race that was won by a progressive performer but he still has it all to prove. Frankie Anson and Herons Well are making their chase debuts over a trip that looks to be on the short side but support would bring them into the equation whilst Mam Ratagan is the chief danger on the form book and has proved to be a relatively consistent performer. Overstrand and Show Winner have disappointed the last twice over hurdles and have questions to answer so we'll take a chance with Lord Larsson who has failed to complete in two starts over fences. He'll probably need further in time but was travelling well when coming to grief last time and looks capable of landing a race of this nature.
Frankie Anson (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Bygones Of Brid (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 6f nh nov hdl (2) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Herons Well (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Mid-division, hit 3 out, weakened soon after, 12th of 18, 23l behind Alfie Sherrin (11-4) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Lord Larsson 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, fell 11th, in a race won by Mumbles Head (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Mam Ratagan 16-1 (9-9) Tended to jump left, led to 7th, chased winner until lost place 11th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 13, 27l behind The Sawyer (9-8) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Crow Spinney 28-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 9, 49l behind Carrietau (11-2) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Franchoek (IRE) 2-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, chased winner going to 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 3, 16l behind Green Belt Elite (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Overstrand (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, led approaching 4th, led 3 out, headed 3 out, stayed prominent until weakened rapidly well before last, 12th of 16, 19l behind Arctic Magic (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (2) sft in Jan.
Show Winner 11-4fav (11-6) Prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 12, 34l behind Balzaccio (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
