led to 3rd, chased leader, weakened after 4 out
behind and pushed along when hit 5th, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened next
always towards rear, weakened 4 out
held up, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up, hit 6th, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened next
always behind, struggling from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 4th, quickly pulled up before 7th
chased leader, led 3rd, headed 3 out, soon ridden, every chance last, held towards finish
chased leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from last
in touch, hit 3rd, headway after 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, reminders 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
This might not take a great deal of winning and the vote goes to Whispering Moor, who is preferred to Caesar's Palace and Silken Pearls. The selection looks potentially well treated on the evidence of his close fourth behind Le Biassais at Newcastle and may be worth chancing in a moderate contest. Silken Pearls reverts to hurdling having won easily in a novice chase at Kelso two months ago and has to be respected but seems plenty high enough in the weights now, while The Quads has given little sign for encouragement in admittedly better races of late. Risetotheoccasion has gone up 8lbs for winning a soft race at Sedgefield last time and has more to do now and of more interest may be Caesar's Palace. Lucinda Russell's gelding remains on a fair mark and if able to reproduce his best form would have to be respected despite his big weight. Shazal has struggled since winning at Kelso in December and preference is for Whispering Moor.
Caesar's Palace (GER) 17-2 Led to 1st, remained prominent, pushed along and lost place halfway, no danger after, 6th of 12, 37l behind Rambling Minster at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Risetotheoccasion (IRE) 9-1 Held up towards rear on outer, headway 9th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well, driven out, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Jan beating Count The Cost by 1l, 11 ran.
Silken Pearls 13-8 With leader, led 4 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kelso 2m 6f mrs nov chs (E) gs in Jan beating Toulon Rouge by a distance, 4 ran.
Whispering Moor 20-1 Held up in rear, pushed along approaching 6th, soon struggling, last of 6, 33l behind Thames at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (D) sft in Feb.
Dalblair (IRE) 33-1 Held up, headway 6th to chase leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 16l behind Fard Du Moulin Mas at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Jan.
Old Nosey (IRE) 4-1 Towards rear, headway 10th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened from next, 7th of 11, 11l behind Cosmic Case at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Jan.
Shazal 10-1 In rear, reminders approaching 4th, headway approaching 3 out, 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Torkinking at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Jan.
Political Cruise 25-1 Never better than mid-division, 10th of 15, well behind Pebble Bay at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs.
