mid-division, headway 14th, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, one pace from 4 out
held up, mistake 8th, headway 12th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway 11th, ridden and weakened after 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
led to 9th, led again 10th, mistake 11th (water), headed and weakened quickly approaching 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, reminder and lost place 6th, behind from 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
mid-division, raced wide from 4th, headway approaching 10th, led approaching 13th, headed 14th, ridden after 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
prominent, jumped slowly 2nd (water), not fluent and lost place 8th, behind when pulled up after 11th
held up, headway 13th, weakened after 14th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
soon in mid-division, headway approaching 8th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 3 out
held up, blundered 7th, headed 11th, led 4 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, led 9th to 10th, led 14th until 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 11th, behind when not fluent 4 out
A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Simon,Sharp Jack and Young Lorcan and the tentative vote is given to Sharp Jack. The selection won well last time out when bleating Kitski and although he has a penalty for that win he won with a little in hand and under similar conditions here he is taken to win again. Simon rates the main danger as he also won well last time out when beating Mount Clerigo. However this looks more competitive and he will need to improve again to win off this higher mark. Young Lorcan has won his last two races in good style but this looks more competitive and off a higher mark on a faster surface he looks vulnerable. Aristoxene was a fair third behind State Of Play last time and is another with place claims despite top weight but he continues to be let down by his jumping at a vital stage and for that reason he is opposed. Of the remainder Be My Better Half is game and consistent and is sure to run his race while Tana River is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but he is becoming expensive to follow and with this in mind for the winner we return to Sharp Jack.
Aristoxene (FR) 40-1 (10-6) Behind, hampered 15th, stayed on from 3 out, never nearer, 3rd of 18, 23l behind State of Play (10-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd.
Be My Better Half (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 13th (Valentine's), 7th when blundered and fell 4 out in race won by Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd, 29 ran.
Tana River (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 4 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Hazeljack (9-10) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Simon 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 10th, blundered 12th, soon outpaced, hit 3 out, rallied 2 out, led flat, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Mar beating Mount Clerigo (11-3) by 3l, 9 ran.
Indalo (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, mistakes 3rd and 19th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 13, 31l behind Eric's Charm (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Major Benefit (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Behind from 3rd, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Calvic (11-8) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Sharp Jack (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) In touch, headway 5th, led 3 out, driven out, won at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Mar beating Kitski (11-2) by 2l, 6 ran.
Young Lorcan 7-2 (11-5) Held up, headway 9th, hit 11th, led after 12th, ridden 3 out, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Mar beating Major Belle (10-0) by a hd, 8 ran.
