in rear, pushed along and behind when fell 10th
made all, clear approaching last
in touch, struggling from 9th, in last and tailed off when fell last
chased leader in second, fell 10th
held up behind, pulled up before 9th, tailed off
held up, headway from 8th, badly hampered by loose horse and unseated after 10th
chased leaders, left 2nd 10th, one pace
held up, left modest 3rd 10th, no impression
held up towards rear, left modest fourth 10th, weakened after 4 out
With plenty of the main protagonists reaching the upper limits of their ratings we'll chance that STAGECOACH AMBER can repeat his emphatic performance last time with Ultimate Limit considered a danger and Ours shouldn't be dismissed either. While it was a moderate handicap the pick won last time it was by 18 lengths after a front running performance. His penultimate run aside he has some solid form this season and looks unexposed enough in this sphere to be able to overcome his eight pound mark rise. Ultimate Limit's mark is getting a little high but this one should handle the ground nicely and is in good heart. Ours has been prolific this winter after landing a hat-trick of handicaps at the back end of last year before following those up with a slightly disappointing runner's up spot in a novice chase. His mark does look a little on the high side but in the context of this race should go well. Fourball would be weighted to challenge but has only shown form softer going so we'll go with Stagecoach Amber to make it two in a row.
Fourball (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistakes 1st and 2nd, blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Pacco (11-5) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Stagecoach Amber (USA) 8-1 (10-12) Made all, drew clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar beating Tarabaloo (11-3) by 18l, 10 ran.
Ours (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Led to 2nd, remained prominent, challenged winner after 3 out until last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Battlefield (9-12) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Own Line 11-2 (11-10) Made all, ridden and jumped left 3 out, stayed on from last, won at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov '07 beating Hold The Bid (10-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Keen Warrior 12-1 (11-6) Prominent, led and blundered 4th, headed 8th, led 10th to 13th, driven and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 8, 27l behind It'S Like That (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Ultimate Limit 10-11fav (9-11) Held up, chased leaders approaching 13th, chased winner approaching 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Never So Blue (11-3) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Cardington 13-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, jumped right 3rd, pushed along after 10th, weakened from next, 6th of 8, 38l behind Even Flo (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Naturally Inspired (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden 7th, soon lost place, virtually pulled up flat, 8th of 10, well behind Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Leopold (SLO) 10-3fav (9-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 12th, weakened next, 5th of 7, 32l behind I'moncloudnine (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Behind, some headway 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Nicozetto (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Mar.
