always behind
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance last, ridden and one pace flat
tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, soon ridden and gradually weakened
led, ridden 2 out, headed flat and soon weakened
mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression
held up, ridden approaching 2 out, plugged on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
towards rear, mid division 4 out, ridden after next, kept on one pace
mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden and kept on one pace
held up, smooth headway from 3 out to chase leaders approaching last, shaken up and led flat, comfortably
towards rear, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace
mid-division until lost place 4 out, soon beaten
A tough race to assess with plenty of exposed or out of form sorts and we will give one more chance here to MARCEL, while Hazeldene and Beau Largesse are respected. The selection acts well on good ground and, although clearly on the wane he was still good enough to land a handicap chase off a mark of 131 last spring and today's hurdles rating is a full 21lbs lower than that. He has good course form here and we will chance him. Hazeldene is another who acts on a sound surface and he comes here on the same mark as when beaten at both Newcastle and Musselburgh just lately. He has not torn up any trees thus far, but he may well be good enough to make the frame again here. Beau Largesse has yet to win a race but keeps threatening to do so and does have some good form in defeat here, and although he might go well it is hard to see him winning. Kingsben will appreciate this good ground and should be straighter for his run last month after a break, so we wouldn't rule him out, though Tranos appears to be suffering at the hands of the assessor after back-to-back Perth wins last summer. Marcel is a tentative pick.
Tranos (USA) 5-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, pushed along 4 out, soon lost place, last of 7, well behind Coolnaharan (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) fm in Oct.
Little Bob 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged and every chance 3 out, ridden next, no impression approaching last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Well Disguised (9-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Marcel (FR) 28-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 12th of 17, 28l behind Oh Crick (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Smart Street 33-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, one pace from last, 4th of 15, 10l behind Pontop (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Hazeldene 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed 3 out, not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Toshi (10-8) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Mar.
Kingsben 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, ridden approaching next, soon weakened, 12th of 17, 38l behind Viscount Rossini (10-10) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Moonhawk 9-1 (10-10) Mid-division, outpaced and blundered 4 out, never dangerous, 13th of 15, 45l behind Prosecco (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Maxwellton Braes 2-1 (11-1) Led until headed 3 out, ridden and weakened from next, 4th of 8, 25l behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-8) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Storm Prospect 33-1 (11-11) Held up, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Kempski (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Farne Island 10-1 (10-3) Held up, effort approaching 3 out, never dangerous, 5th of 15, 11l behind Pontop (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar.
Annibale Caro 22-1 (11-10) Held up, never dangerous, 11th of 17, 26l behind Breaking Shadow (11-5) at Catterick 2m sell hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Dec '07.
Solis (GER) 5-1 (10-12) In touch, led 3 out, headed after last, one pace, 4th of 11, 5l behind Cote d'Argent (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Beau Largesse 5-2fav (10-6) Mid-division when fell 2nd, in a race won by Cote d'Argent (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 11 ran.
