made most from 1st, driven and headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression on winner flat
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, left 4th when hampered next, never on terms
led to 1st, disputed lead, hit 10th, driven and lost place 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, no chance with leading pair from next
held up in rear, blundered 2nd, headway on outside to chase leaders after 4 out, 3 lengths down in 3rd when fell next
tracked leading pair, hit 10th challenged 3 out, led before next, ridden between last 2, stayed on to go clear flat, readily
held up in touch, lost place 7th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
Martin Keighley's Mr Newton showed improved form at Huntingdon last month when chasing home King Jack in a handicap chase off a mark of 103 and he has to be considered following that effort but he faces no easy task at the weights against CIRCUS OF DREAMS, who gets the vote with Mister Watzisname rated the best of the rest. The selection disappointed at Ffos Las in January but came back to form when successful in good fashion at Leicester earlier this month and a reproduction of that effort may well suffice. Samurai Way has run respectably in recent starts over hurdles for Venetia Williams and now makes his debut over fences so cannot be discounted, although lack of experience over fences is a worry. Distiller was the pick of these over hurdles having been rated as high as 129 but the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding has not run up to the same level of form over the larger obstacles. Charlie Longsdon's Mister Watzisname has run well over fences before and looks the main danger to the selection but he has disappointed in his last two starts, latterly over hurdles, and a safer option looks to be Circus Of Dreams.
Circus of Dreams 7-4fav (11-0) With leader until after 2nd, challenged 4th, definate lead 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Leicester 2m beg chase (4) hvy beating Vasodilator (11-0) by 16l, 5 ran.
Distiller (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened after 5 out, 6th of 7, 33l behind Emperor Concerto (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chase (4) sft in Feb.
Mister Watzisname (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 14, 48l behind Honest John (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Mr Newton (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Slowly away, pulled hard in rear, stumbled 5th, headway 11th, hampered 3 out, went 3rd after next, hit and pecked last, ran on to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind King Jack (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Samurai Way 4-1fav (10-11) Led, hit 9th, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed challenging, one pace in close 3rd when left 2nd last, held flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Preuty Boy (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Southern Exit 33-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, soon beaten, 9th of 14, well behind Star Galaxy (10-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
