held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on run-in
in rear, ridden before last, kept on and no impression
close up, led 14th, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace
held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
led to 14th, pushed along and weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, led before 2 out, pressed from last, kept on gamely
held up towards rear, kept on from before 2 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, challenged after last, every chance run-in, kept on and held towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden before last, never dangerous
Aachen and Pigeon Island have both won veterans' handicaps this season but this looks more competitive. Lamboro Lad has gone close at Exeter and Ffos Las recently but looks vulnerable again off his current mark and last year's winner Good Order and Rossini's Dancer were pulled up last time. Carrigmorna King alternates between hurdles and fences but is another who looks high enough in the weights while Problema Tic remains largely out of sorts. SUN CLOUD has been thriving over marathon trips this season but had the speed to win over shorter at Hexham in December and ran well over hurdles at this meeting last year. Still only a seven-year-old, he is taken to bounce back in this.
Sun Cloud (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Held up behind, mistake 14th, some headway into mid-division 5 out, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 16, well behind Goulanes (10-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Carrigmorna King (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out, 11th of 20, 25l behind Carole's Destrier (11-6) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Problema Tic (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Led until 3rd, led before 4th until 5th, led after 6th, headed before 4 out, lost place approaching 3 out, 6th of 13, 20l behind Vivaldi Collonges (11-6) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Good Order 8-1 (10-11) Mistake 1st, never travelled in rear, mistake 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Planet Of Sound (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Rossini's Dancer 18-1 (11-4) In rear on outside, jumped slowly 1st, ridden and well beaten 9th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Galway Jack (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar, 7 ran.
Aachen 5-1 (11-8) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, blundered and lost place 4th, ralllied under pressure to chase leaders agan 8th, mistake next, soon lost place and eased, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Midnight Sail (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar, 10 ran.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Jumped right on occasions, raced wide in touch, headway 10th, 2nd after next, led narrowly bypassing omitted 3 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Beforeall (11-4) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Pigeon Island 9-1 (10-4) In rear, no impression in 5th when went right 3 out (normal 4 out), plugged on to 4th approaching last, went 3rd run in, never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 28l behind Summery Justice (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Mar.
Fiddlers Reel 3-1 (11-8) Close up and wide, led 8th, mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Fentara (11-8) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft, 7 ran.
Oil Burner 6-4fav (10-13) Mistake 1st, in touch on outside, joined leader 10th, effort 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 5, 21l behind The Friary (11-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
