held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 8th, challenged 3 out, led approaching next, driven out
tracked leaders, weakened 8th, tailed off and pulled up
led to 4th, led again 10th, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider
tracked leader, led 4th to 10th, weakened 5 out and pulled up
held up, headway 5 out, soon chasing clear pair, never dangerous
tracked leaders, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up
in rear, mistake 1st, blundered 2nd, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up
Nonrunner
Jimmy Bond is probably high enough in the weights at present and so we will side with Corlande ahead of Top Dressing. The selection needs to bounce back from an average run at Cheltenham but that was in a much better race than this one and this smaller field likely to put less emphasis on his jumping (made mistakes last time). This mark may not be the most flattering but with his jockey claiming a valuable seven pounds, he is taken to come out on top. Brandy Wine won well over the course and distance last time out and whilst he has the habit of throwing in the odd shocker, on his best runs he rates the main danger. Top Dressing steps up in trip having disappointed last time out at Sedgfield, whilst Sands Rising and Clearly Now have to prove that age is no barrier, with the latter returning after an absence of almost three years. Stormant Dawn, Mr Twins and Whispering Moor are all up against it from out of the handicap, and so we will return to Corlande to resume winning ways.
Jimmy Bond 12-1 (10-9) Prominent, pushed along 4 out, ridden next, one pace under pressure, 4th of 10, 7l behind Crackadee (10-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Brandy Wine (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, hard ridden to lead 2 out, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb beating BallaBriggs (11-12) by 9l, 9 ran.
Corlande (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, pecked 4th, behind from 10th, 8th of 10, well behind Arturio (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Top Dressing (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader to 7th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, beaten when blundered next, last of 6, 33l behind Le Roi Rouge (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Clearly Now (IRE) 3-1fav (10-4) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 7th, hit 9th, blundered 3 out, soon led, clear last, eased flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-100 (G) sft in Apr '05 beating Knockdoo (11-0) by 16l, 10 ran.
Whispering Moor 33-1 (10-7) Behind, headway 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, 18l behind Something Silver (11-6) at Ayr 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Mr Twins (ARG) 33-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, hit 4th, ridden next, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 9, 36l behind Silver By Nature (11-8) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Stormont Dawn (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb beating Woodview (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sands Rising 6-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden 4 out, headway approaching next, no impression, 4th of 8, 9l behind Primus Inter Pares (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
