keen raced wide, tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden edged right and ran on flat
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on one pace
led, pushed along and headed 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
GEROMINO has a strong claim on the evidence of a late autumn/early winter hat-trick, which was followed by an excellent effort behind Tommy's Oscar at Doncaster when beaten under a length. He's disappointed on both subsequent starts but is worth the chance to get back on track here on a second start since wind surgery as he makes his chasing debut. He does have to give plenty of weight to his two rivals though and Pitempton Power looks the main threat as a dual chase winner and with the benefit of five fencing starts under his belt. Avoid De Master is not discounted but does need to bounce back from a low-key Doncaster effort when last seen in January.
Geromino (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Led, pushed along and headed turning in, soon ridden, weakened before the last, 8th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Cormier (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Pitempton Power (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Chased clear leader, closed 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly flat when rider dropped whip, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Tim Pat (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Avoid De Master (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Midfield, towards rear 5th (water), not fluent 7th, headway into midfield 10th, awkward 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out where mistake, 5th of 6, dist behind Nocte Volatus (11-3) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
