close up until lost place from 7th, went remote 3rd approaching 21st
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 17th, blundered and unseated rider 18th
tracked leaders, led 6th, headed approaching 9th, blundered 11th, weakening when mistake 19th, pulled up before 21st
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 15th
held up towards rear, tracked leaders 3rd, led 20th, challenged 2 out, stayed on well from last
prominent, went 3rd after 19th, left 2nd 20th, every chance 2 out, weakened last
led, headed 6th, led again approaching 9th, headed when mistake and unseated rider 20th
Irish point-to-point winner Simply Smashing won his first race under rules when successful at Carlisle in October and has every chance if able to reproduce a similar level of form today over a trip that may suit but he has disappointed in his last two starts and looks best watched with a better bet looking to be STAGECOACH DIAMOND, who is preferred to Reckless Venture. Lucinda Russell's gelding found one too good for the third time in his last five starts when chasing home Seeking Power at Kelso last month and he has to be respected but a 3lb rise for that run makes this more difficult as does the longer trip so he may be best watched. Benbeoch has a nice racing weight carrying just 10st, although he is 1lb out of the weights proper and has gone up in the handicap having been travelling well before falling two out at Kelso last month. Don McCain's Gershwinner has surprisingly not improved since being stepped up to trips in excess of three miles, being by Classic Cliche, and is hard to recommend, while Philson Run probably needs more help from the handicapper. The vote then goes the way of Sue Smith's Stagecoach Diamond, who has been running consistently well, comes from a yard in good form now and has gone well over similarly long trips in the past.
Stagecoach Diamond 5-1 (11-7) Towards rear when fell 4th, in a race won by Matmata de Tendron (9-11) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Gershwinner (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway going to 10th, took closer order 13th, outpaced from 4 out, 5th of 12, 17l behind Matmata de Tendron (9-11) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Jimandgary (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Soon led, headed 4th, close 3rd until fell 9th, in a race won by Blazing Diva (10-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Greenandredparson (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, 7 lengths down in 3rd and looking held when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Junior (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chase (4) gd, 5 ran.
Simply Smashing (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, not fluent 9th, headway next, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out, 8th of 9, 40l behind Noakarad De Verzee (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Reckless Venture (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leader, led after 3 out, ridden and headed final 150 yards, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Seeking Power (11-0) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
The Green Hat (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, prominent, lost place 7th, tailed off after 12th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Categorical (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Philson Run (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Raced wide, held up towards rear, headway and well in touch 9th, pushed along 12th, in rear and struggling before 17th, pulled up before 18th, in a race won by Noble Bily (9-9) at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 10 ran.
Benbeoch 40-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, chased leader approaching 14th, led 16th, 16 lengths clear when fell 2 out, in a race won by Robbers Glen (12-6) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
