held up in last pair, steady headway approaching 11th, chasing leaders when hampered on inside bend after 4 out, one pace under pressure and no real impression next
tended to jump right, chased leaders, led 4th, headed 7th, blundered next, led again after 9th, stayed on well from 3 out, ridden out
held up in last trio, ridden and struggling 9th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out
led until 4th, chased winner, led again 7th until after 9th, chased winner until after 10th, went 2nd again 11th, lost 2nd 3 out, 3rd and held when stumbled next, no extra in 4th
in touch, went 3rd 4 out, stayed on to 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace flat
chased leader until approaching 4th, chased leaders, blundered 6th, badly out pace and lost place 9th, rallied to 3rd soon after 2 out, kept on same pace flat
in rear, steady headway approaching 11th, well held when bumped 3 out, beaten when went left next, tailed off
chased leaders, went 3rd at 6th, went 2nd before 10th until next, mistake 4 out, bumped on inside bend soon after, ridden before 3 out, soon no impression, tailed off
Nonrunner
Course winner Royal Wedding is back on a winning mark but may need the ground to dry out a little more so we'll stick with SPEEDY BRUERE. He was having just his fourth start over the larger obstacles when winning by 11 lengths at Towcester and can probably find the improvement necessary to defy his penalty. Lord Singer and Mon Chevalier are usually thereabouts but struggle to get their heads in front nowadays while the handicapper appears to have caught up with Venetian Lad. Goring Two was sent off favourite at Lingfield last week but never looked like winning and is much better when the mud is flying.
Lord Singer (FR) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up in last trio, slow and ridden 3rd, headway to get in behind leaders next, not fluent 6th, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 9, 26l behind Olympian Boy (10-4) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Speedy Bruere (FR) 11-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led before 2 out, ridden clear last, stayed on, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb beating Pensnett Bay (11-4) by 11l, 10 ran.
Royal Wedding 50-1 (10-13) In rear, tailed off halfway, soon pulled up, in a race won by State Benefit (11-4) at Sandown 3m Amateur Handicap Chase (0-130) (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Mister Wiseman 40-1 (10-2) Led until after 4th, prominent, weakened approaching 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Rouge Et Blanc (10-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb, 11 ran.
Venetian Lad 9-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, chased leaders, blundered 13th, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Arbeo (10-10) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Try Catch Me (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Mid-division, struggling 18th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 24th, in a race won by Uncle Junior (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cntry chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Francis Du Mesnil (FR) 18-1 (11-10) Held up, well beaten 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Master Of The Sea (11-7) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Goring Two (IRE) 9-4fav (11-11) Chased leading pair, ridden and outpaced in rear 6th, rallied 8th, weakened after next, tailed off, 6th of 7, 21l behind Little Jimmy (10-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb.
Mon Chevalier (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, weakened after next, modest 4th, 4th of 7, 33l behind Shangani (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
