held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
with leaders, hit 6th, hit 8th, weakened 3 out
held up, reminders and headway 7th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, ridden and upsides approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
led, headed 7th, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
with leaders, pushed along and lost place after 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, led 7th, hit and headed 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up, pushed along after 7th, headway next, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway approaching 8th, led and hit last, driven out
held up in touch, led 3 out, headed last, kept on same pace
held up in touch, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, stayed on
always in rear
held up mid-division on outer, lost place approaching 7th
Quite a tricky race to call this and while Great Approach looks set for yet another place the winner should come from a list including I'm The Decider, Snake Charmer, Freeze The Flame and GEORGIAN KING, with the last-named just getting the vote. Alan King's runner won comfortably last time in what so far has proved quite a weak contest. He's up another eight pounds for that, which seems fair enough, and it could be he is still ahead of the handicapper. I'm The Decider is on form having won his last two starts and he does like it here recording a 100 per cent record from two starts. This is his optimum trip but his rating is getting on the high side. Snake Charmer is another with winning form having claimed victory on his last outing after a progressive run of form but like the one we've just mentioned looks under a heavy burden. Freeze the Flame could be better than his mark suggests but he is yet to show his hurdles talent over the bigger obstacles while Great Approach always runs his race but may just find one or two too good again and in front of him should be the pick, Georgian King.
Harmony Brig (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up, slightly hampered after 15th, outpaced 5 out, soon beaten, 5th of 13, well behind Merigo (11-1) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Laertes 20-1 (11-5) With leader, jumped right 5th, lost place 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 8, 28l behind Heraldry (10-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Georgian King 8-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led next, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Feb beating Sheriff Hutton (11-1) by 6l, 9 ran.
Ice Tea (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place 10th, behind 12th, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Character Building (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs, 24 ran.
Freeze The Flame (GER) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led 12th until next, stayed challenging, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 8l behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Snake Charmer 18-1 (10-12) Chased clear leader until left in lead 2nd, squeezed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, drifted left after last, stayed on gamely, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs beating Victorias Groom (11-12) by 2l, 15 ran.
I'm The Decider (IRE) 6-4fav (10-9) Held up, headway 9th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb beating Mortimers Cross (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Great Approach (IRE) 5-2 (10-11) Held up, not fluent, headway 12th, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Chief Dan George (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Feb.
Distiller (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 9th, ridden and one pace after 2 out, mistake last, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Tora Bora (11-3) at Ascot 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Rathcor 16-1 (11-8) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened soon after, 11th of 20, 22l behind Gala Evening (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Share Option 33-1 (11-5) Pulled hard, held up ridden and struggling after 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Dont Tell The Wife (10-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Kelami (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up, short lived effort 9th, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Captain Americo (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
