prominent, chased leader 7th, weakening when not fluent 2 out
mid-division, pushed along 7th, weakened next
chased leader to 3rd, 2nd again 6th to 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, in rear when fell 2 out
mid-division, pushed along approaching 7th, weakened before next
held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led, hit 3 out, edged right flat, caught post
held up and behind, effort approaching 8th, weakened after 3 out, hung left approaching 2 out
always prominent, chased leader 3rd, not fluent 5th, lost 2nd next, 2nd again before 2 out, switched right after hurdle, drifted right last, ran on under strong pressure flat to lead post
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Exmoor Ranger and Boing Boing are two horses on the up and could dominate this contest; our preference is for Victor Dartnall's charge. The selection has been raised by 9lbs for winning at Sandown but that could turn out to be a decent race as there were plenty of unexposed horses in there and he's one to follow. Boing Boing has been rejuvenated by a switch of yards and followed up his win at Uttoxeter with an even more impressive performance at Huntingdon. He was allowed an easy time out in front that day though and could find life tougher today. Leamington Lad has form claims but hasn't proved easy to win with, South Bank may improve for racing on a better surface but has it all to prove, Ceoperk makes a little each-way appeal whilst support for Liberia should be taken seriously but, in the absence of that, Exmoor Ranger makes plenty of appeal.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, effort approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 39l behind El Zorro (10-11) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Pantherus (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened when hampered 2 out, 8th of 12, 24l behind Coda Agency (10-12) at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Smart Boy Prince (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Led until 5th, mistake 7th, soon weakened, 10th of 12, well behind Gustavo (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Best Deal 50-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 5th, headway after 6th, ridden and edged left approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 4th of 8, 15l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-13) at Warwick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Bay Hawk 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 20l behind Noble Raider (11-3) at Sandown 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Ceoperk (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway after 8th, ridden after next, soon weakened, 5th of 16, 40l behind Iroquois Warrior (11-11) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Boing Boing (IRE) 13-8fav (10-1) Made all, not fluent 3 out, shaken up and ran on well from 2 out, unchallenged, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating King Cyrus (11-0) by 20l, 6 ran.
Brigadore (USA) 25-1 (11-11) Prominent, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened well before 2 out, 14th of 19, 20l behind Ede's (9-7) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Liberia (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 3rd, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 25l behind Trigger Guard (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Barnbrook Empire (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Mistakes 4th and 8th, always behind, 6th of 12, 40l behind Rabbit (10-8) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept '06.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, hit 1st, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd and hit 2 out, stayed on well, led towards finish, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb beating Soixante (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Heir To Be 16-1 (11-0) Jumped left, soon tailed off and pulled up at the 7th in race won by Josear (10-11) at Hereford 2m nov chs (4) gd in Feb, 11 ran.
South Bank (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 18, 14l behind Munching Mike (10-5) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Darwaz (IRE) 66-1 (11-8) In touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Wun Chai (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 21 ran.
Business Traveller (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 9th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, 32l behind Jug Of Punch (10-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct '06.
