behind, jumped badly left 5th and 6th, tailed off from 13th, pulled up
held up towards rear, hit 12th, headway approaching 14th, chased winner approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in mid-division, chased leaders approaching 13th, mistake 4 out, hit next when weakening
led, headed 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, headway approaching 11th, led 5 out, clear last, easily
tracked leaders and keen, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, jumped slowly 12th, pushed along and soon lost place, soon pulled up
chased leaders, weakened approaching 13th
held up in mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression
close up, not fluent 13th, weakened approaching next, soon pulled up
reluntant to race and very slowly away, well behind until some headway to join rear of group approaching 8th, tailed off 13th, soon pulled up
Six of the last 10 runnings of this race have gone to favourites and our guess is that HORSHAM LAD may enhance that statistic further by accounting for Accumulus and Belligerent in a race where the market may prove the best guide. Our pick was formerly in the care of Evan Williams before joining his current yard and, after a disappointing start, he seems to have got his career back on track of late in rattling up a sequence of wins in the point-to-point sphere. At only six-years-old there may be a deal more to come from this gelding and, with conditions expected to pose no problem, he gets the vote ahead of Accumulus. Geoffrey Deacon's gelding has been in good form of late having won one of these at Huntingdon before taking second last time, but he's got to shoulder a penalty and may find that preventing him from gaining further success. Belligerent has placed in three similar contests but wouldn't have appealed as a likely winner had he not won well in a point-to-point last time, a victory that may have boosted his confidence ahead of this return to rules. He could go well along with Ballyeightra Cross, a winner in Ireland who appears to act on good ground. His stablemate Keenans Reserve needs a market check but on balance looks the second-string, so of more interest at a price is Springfield Dante who seems to have turned over a new leaf of late. The market will help solve this puzzle but Horsham Lad remains capable of further progression in this sphere and is therefore our idea of the winner.
Accumulus 14-1 (11-9) In rear, outpaced 4 out, plugged on to go 2nd after last, nearest finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Moncadou (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hts chs (4) hvy in Feb.
Ballyeightra Cross (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Held up; chall 2 out; rdn to ld flat, won at Tabley 3m ptp gs beating Echo India (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Brookview Lad (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Mid-division, hit 5 out, never dangerous, 5th of 10, well behind Theatre Diva (10-10) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) sft.
Cash In Hand (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, led 14th, soon headed, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 10, 37l behind Coolefind (11-13) at Southwell 3m hts chs (6) gd.
Horsham Lad (IRE) 11-10 (12-0) Ap; led 10-13; led last; ro wl, won at Brocklesby Park 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Pleasure Shared (12-0) by 3l, 9 ran.
Keenans Reserve (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Prom; went 2nd 3 out; nt qckn last, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Cluthe Boy (12-0) at Tabley 3m ptp gs.
Mrsilverlining (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Hdwy 12; wknd 14; pu 3 out, in a race won by Deny Everything (12-0) at Brampton Bryan 3m ptp sft, 15 ran.
Shraden Edition 6-1 (12-0) Ap; led aft 15; hdd nxt; wknd flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind The Artful Fox (12-0) at Flagg Moor 3m ptp gs.
Springfield Dante 10-11 (12-0) Cl up; led 4 out; drvn out, won at Tabley 3m ptp gs beating Rockabilly (11-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Willie Wong (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) (tt) prom; 4th & wkng when ur 3 out, in a race won by Nomadic Dreamer (12-0) at Eyton-on-severn 3m ptp gd, 9 ran.
Lilly De Rome 10-1 (11-7) Went prom 9; wknd 15; to & pu last, in a race won by Our Whiz (12-0) at Bangor-on-dee 3m ptp gf in May, 8 ran.
Belligerent (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) (cp) (tt) held up; hdwy 14; led 2 out; sn clr, won at Eyton-on-severn 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Vicario (12-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
