in rear, mistake 3rd, soon pushed along and struggling, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 3rd before 2 out, led 2 out, clear last
held up towards rear, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered badly 3 out, soon lost place, kept on from 2 out, no impression
always towards rear,
tracked leader, every chance 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner
led, pushed along and headed 2 out, weakened before last
SHORT TAKES returned a losing favourite when stepped up in distance at Doncaster last time. He'd earlier coasted home over today's trip at Sedgefield and gets another chance in this. Choisan finished a distance behind the selection at Sedgefield and Rosquero, a winner at Ayr last month, looks a bigger threat. Copt Hill was narrowly beaten at Catterick in January but the handicapper has taken no chances and raised him 9lb for that while Rupert Bear has failed to figure since finishing runner-up in last year's renewal off a 3lb higher mark.
Rupert Bear 11-2 (10-2) In rear, blundered 2nd, soon detached and tailed off, 4th of 5, 41l behind Supreme Asset (11-7) at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Feb.
Short Takes (USA) 10-3fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, led narrowly 3 out, ridden and edged right between last 2, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Groomed (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Choisan (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) With leader, led 3 out, headed before last, soon beaten, 2nd of 4, 24l behind Short Takes (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Snowed In (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 6th of 10, 45l behind Bold Tara (9-13) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Vinomore 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway when blundered 7th, mistake 10th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Local Present (10-1) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Oct '12, 11 ran.
Copt Hill 9-1 (10-5) Led, headed narrowly 2 out, soon left in lead, ridden and headed last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Seven Summits (11-7) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Rosquero (FR) 17-2 (10-5) Made all, not fluent 3 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on well flat, won at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Feb beating Scimon Templar (11-3) by 4l, 9 ran.
