held up, headway 9th, led 3 out, clear 2 out, ridden and 3 lengths ahead last, held on towards finish
prominent, went 2nd 10th, driven after 4 out, well there 3 out, weakened before next
led, not fluent 1st, headed before 2nd, pressed leader, close 3rd when blundered badly 11th, soon lost ground on leaders, rallied from 3 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on well flat, gaining towards finish
in touch, outpaced, beaten 3 out
prominent, led before 2nd, headed when blundered 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, jumped slowly 3rd, soon dropped rear, jumped slowly 4th, behind after, pulled up after 10th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Sprosser is put forwards in an interesting curtain raiser but none of the eight runners are dismissed. The selection has been raised by 2lbs for getting the better of a below par Gold Medallist in a six runner race at Southwell. There was plenty to like about his attitude and jumping that day and he has the look of a progressive young chaser. It looks worth taking a chance with him against some more experienced campaigners. Kerry Lads has a fine record here but isn't getting any younger, Silver Sedge saves his best for Newcastle and a 6lb rise looks stiff enough, Canada Street won well here on his penultimate start, Ross Comm is from an in-form yard and cases can be made for Trisons Star and Henry's Pride but Snoopy Loopy is arguably of most interest. He's been well backed more than once this season prior to doing the business in cheekpieces last time; he's not too badly treated on his best form and should go well if they have the same effect again but we'll stick with Sprosser.
Silver Sedge (IRE) 4-5fav (11-11) Tracked leader, led 5 out, clear next, easily, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf beating Super Baby (10-8) by 9l, 3 ran.
Sprosser (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leader, joined leader 14th, soon ridden, led after 3 out, kept on under pressure from last, all out, won at Southwell 3m nov chs (3) gd in Jan beating Gold Medallist (10-12) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Prominent, led 9th, in command when hit 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Feb beating Forest Miller (9-10) by 11l, 12 ran.
Ross Comm 7-2 (11-5) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 5th, chased winner 3 out until approaching bend on flat, one pace, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Chabrimal Minster (11-4) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Henry's Pride (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, weakened from 5 out, 16th of 20, well behind An Accordion (10-3) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jan.
Trisons Star (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leader, led 4 out, mistake 2 out, driven out, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Feb beating Silent Bay (11-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Kerry Lads (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Prominent in chasing group, went 2nd at 12th until 14th, weakened 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Cloudy Lane (11-12) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb, 5 ran.
Canada Street (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent until outpaced 18th, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 15, 25l behind Lucky Nellerie (9-12) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
