mid-division, lost action and pulled up before 9th
behind, lost touch 8th, pulled up before next
held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, driven to lead flat, stayed on
chased leaders, reminders 12th, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, 6th and beaten when mistake next, soon weakened
chased leaders, driven and outpaced after 5 out, weakened next
led to 10th, chased leader, ridden and lost place 3 out, no impression from next
in touch on inside, mistake 11th, hit next, soon lost place, weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up
mistake 1st, with leader, led 10th, ridden and headed flat, kept on towards finish
held up towards rear, headway 12th, chased leaders when hit 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened before last
held up behind on inside, headway 10th, chased leader when hit 3 out, lost 2nd next, kept on same pace
Lease Lend beat Storymaker four lengths last time and the latter now has a 4lb pull, which should make them finish much closer together, but the former runner looks likely to be in the grip of the handicapper now and we will side with LEAMINGTON LAD. Very much at home on this ground, the Nigel Twiston-Davies inmate has run well from higher marks over hurdles and was not too far away from this mark of 123 over fences at Ludlow last time. He should get this trip well on what is a flat enough track at Haydock and with the yard in cracking form we will side with him. Camden George stays further than this but is hard to win with and would prefer some cut, while stablemate Daldini goes well here, though he was clobbered by the assessor for winning at Southwell and has a tough task today. Or De Grugy was a staying-on winner over just short of three miles last time, but this slight drop in trip shouldn't be a major issue and he has good ground form, so he is respected from a 7lbs higher mark, though Leamington Lad is taken to score.
Jass 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied and stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Jimmy Bond (10-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Brooklyn Brownie (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Held up in touch on inside, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, left remote 3rd after 2 out, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Chief Dan George (11-3) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Lease Lend 4-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on outside, headway 11th, went 2nd after 2 out, challenged flat, stayed on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Storymaker (11-2) by 4l, 8 ran.
The Vicar (IRE) 11-2 (10-6) In touch, hit 5th, soon lost place, rear when not fluent 9th, weakening when hit 11th, tailed off, 9th of 10, 49l behind Piraya (10-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Or de Grugy (FR) 9-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, led 14th, driven out, held on well, won at Kelso 2m 6f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-135) (5yo+) (3) sft in Feb beating Doc Row (10-6) by 6l, 6 ran.
Daldini 22-1 (10-0) Led on inside, headed approaching 11th, hit 12th, weakened approaching next, 10th of 14, 48l behind Wogan (10-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd.
Aleron (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) With leader, led 2nd, headed 11th, chased winner until hit and lost place 5 out, left 3rd next until after 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 31l behind Chief Dan George (11-3) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, led next until 13th, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Storymaker 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, chased winner 12th, all of 8 lengths down last, ridden and stayed on flat, gaining on winner near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Quito Du Tresor (11-2) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Camden George (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, stayed on from last, 4th of 9, 12l behind Categorical (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
