held up, headway after 6th, ridden and not fluent 2 out, chase winner last, stayed on
mid-division, hit 1st, lost place after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened before next
not jump well, in touch, pushed along 3rd, hit 6th, lost place 7th, no danger after
behind, headway 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, hit 5th, some headway 8th, 7th and 8 lengths down when fell 3 out
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 9th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden 5th, mistake 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
made all, hit 5th, mistake 7th, ridden 2 out, mistake last, stayed on well
chased leaders, went 2nd after 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace flat
Golden Bay is the pick over Taking My Cut, Drumbeater and Jiver in a fairly open contest. Suzy Smith does well with her small string, and appears to have another good opportunity for Golden Bay, successful at Fontwell in January on what was her first outing in 10 months. That was the mare's first outing for the stable, having been nursed back to health after suffering pelvis and hock injuries, and the former Jonathan Geake inmate can only improve. She is therefore taken to defy a rise in the weights and get the better of Taking My Cut who has plenty of weight for his handicap bow. Related to the likes of Gaye Brief and Gaye Chance on the dam's side, he will benefit from this step up in trip judged on a hard-fought win over shorter at Chepstow. Drumbeater got bogged down in the heavy ground at Haydock last time and should fare better here, but he has gone up around two stone this season and is another with plenty of weight to carry. He should though reverse Haydock form with Jiver at least on these terms and may make the frame. Ranelagh Gray has won here in the past and makes a return to hurdling after falling on his chase debut at Fontwell in December. Woodland Genpower is useful on his day but would prefer more testing conditions, and we would rather side with Golden Bay.
Drumbeater (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 9th of 20, 26l behind Olaso (10-13) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Taking My Cut 8-13fav (11-3) Held up, steady headway 4th, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Brads House (10-7) by 1l, 14 ran.
Jiver (IRE) 33-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 4th of 20, 11l behind Olaso (10-13) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Woodlands Genpower (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until weakened 13th, tailed off from next, 6th of 12, well behind Earl's Kitchen (10-12) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Vicars Destiny 11-2 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, stayed on from last, never dangerous, 5th of 9, 8l behind Clan Royal (11-7) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Golden Bay 5-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, soon in command, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan beating Rosemauve (11-12) by 11l, 10 ran.
Kings Bay 16-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 12, 7l behind Carew Lad (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Love Of Classics 7-2 (11-0) Held up mid-division, ridden 5 out, blundered 3 out, never on terms, 3rd of 13, 21l behind Harrycone Lewis (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
