made all, left clear 2 out, driven out
held up mid-division, headway when hit 3 out, one pace
held up, unseated rider 4th
towards rear, chased leader 7th, 2 lengths down in 2nd when blundered badly 2 out
tracked winner, ridden 4 out, stayed on
chased leaders, ridden and behind from 9th
tracked leaders and mistakes, blundered and lost place from 7th
always behind
held up mid-division, hit 3rd, ridden and weakened from 4 out
Give Me Love is selected in the finale - Tagar and Kayceecee are expected to pose strong challenges, while Alam is no out of this despite being burdened with top weight. The last named hasn't won for two years, though. Which is disconcerting and he appears to be in the grip of the assessor. Kayceecee has been running to his mark of late and is also struggling from his current mark. Still, he is consistent enough to merit consideration and he can be expected to be involved in the thick of the action. As can Tagar, who is in with a shout if he recaptures any of his old sparkle. Again winning is not a natural process with him and he would hardly be the best betting proposition of the day. Therefore, Give Me Love gets the nomination on this occasion. The gelding has shown a good deal of resilience in his last two starts and, having won off a rating of 119, he looks to be very well treated for this off just 103.
Alam (USA) 9-1 (11-8) Held up, progress approaching 6th, ridden 2 out, kept on to go 2nd flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Syroco (11-9) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Give Me Love (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Pulled hard, held up, headway 4th, jumped slowly 6th, went 2nd 4 out, travelling well, effort by ommited last fence, not run on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Kercabellec (10-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Kayceecee (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Hit 1st, took keen hold and held up in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, left modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Maljimar (10-13) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
College City (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway 7th to chase leaders, ridden 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 13, 18l behind Thatlldoforme (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Red Man Ray (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Led and soon clear, headed 7th, soon weakened, last of 6, well behind Supreme Cara (10-8) at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Lord Gunnerslake (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Held up, lost touch from 4 out, 5th of 7, well behind Chief Yeoman (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Tagar (FR) 20-1 (11-5) In touch, mistake and lost place 4th, ridden 5 out, never on terms, 7th of 14, 21l behind Baligrundle (10-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) 5-2 (11-3) Chased leadings, led approaching 3 out, headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Glen Thyne (11-0) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Monkstown Road 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, bumped 5th, behind from 7th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Femme D'avril (10-12) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Vigoureux (FR) 7-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 8th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 5, 13l behind Elgar (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
