held up, headway 4th, ridden in 4th after 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, reminders after 5th, some headway under pressure 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
mid-division until weakened 3 out
always towards rear
always behind, tailed off from 7th
with leader until after 7th, soon ridden, weakened after next, tailed off
mid-division, hit 3rd, behind from 8th
mid-division until lost place after 7th, soon ridden, staying on when hit 2 out, finished well but never a danger
mid-division, headway after 5th, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, clear next, hit last, ridden out
mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened after next
led until after 3 out, still 2nd but no chance when mistake last, weakened
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from 2 out
always towards rear
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Wild Ground reverts to hurdling on a decent mark having risen up the ranks over fences but that's likely to be reflected in her price so we'll take her on with Midnight Ocean. Handicap debutant Himba, War Pennant and Imperial Harry are amongst others of interest. The selection has made the frame in similar contests the last twice but the handicapper has given her every chance of getting her head in front by leaving her mark alone. She was held up a long way off the pace last time when finishing around 18 lengths in front of Hermano Cordobes and may be able to gain a deserved success if able to race closer to the pace this afternoon. Wild Ground has done really well over fences since joining Brendan Powell and is just 6lbs higher than when winning a selling hurdle for her previous connections. She would appear to have a leading chance but her yard has been finding National Hunt winners hard to come by. Imperial Harry was supported into favouritism last time and it's interesting to see connections persevere with a visor, War Pennant has stamina questions to answer and Himba has plenty to prove on his handicap bow. The ex-Irish Deoraoicht is worth a market check as his fledgling trainer went close to pulling off a touch with her first runner but we'll stick with Midnight Ocean for the time being.
Imperial Harry 2-1fav (10-13) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Kinetic Power (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Fairlight Shadow (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 7th, soon ridden, weakened 8th, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Nevada Royale (11-3) at Exeter 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Master Wolfe (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Sir Peter (11-10) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
Lazy But Lively (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Towards rear, behind from 12th, 8th of 15, well behind Time Bandit (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb.
Deoraoicht (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Behind, badly hampered 5th, soon trailing, pulled up after 6 out pulled up in race won by Coin Man (11-12) at Bellewstown 3m hcp hdl 0-116 frm in Aug, 14 ran.
Silistra 9-1 (10-3) Held up, brief effort 6th, 10th of 13, well behind Loita Hills (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Himba 50-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 13l behind El Batal (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Tanktastic 150-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off from 5th, 15th of 18, well behind Song of Songs (11-9) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Hermano Cordobes (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) In touch, headway to lead 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out, blundered last, 4th of 14, 26l behind Lenny The Blade (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Novi Sad (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden 4 out, blundered 2 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by L'Oiseau (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Oct, 12 ran.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Chased leaders until dropped rear 5th, mistake 3 out, plugged on, 7th of 15, 27l behind Our Jim (11-3) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Feb.
War Pennant 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 17, 11l behind Decree Nisi (11-5) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
Wild Ground (IRE) 11-4fav (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, outpaced before 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 49l behind I'm Supreme (11-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Lilac Wine 100-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out, 13th of 17, 49l behind Fretwork (9-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Northern Endeavour 15-2 (10-1) Held up, some headway from 9th, never dangerous, 5th of 13, 27l behind Storm Talk (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in May.
Psychic Star 16-1 (10-2) Mid-division until weakened 7th, behind and pulled up 2 out in race won by Herald Angel (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar, 18 ran.
Pearly Star 16-1 (10-4) Mid-division, ridden and headway after 6th, one pace next, 5th of 14, 18l behind Lordsbridge (10-5) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Midnight Ocean 9-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, went 4th and hit 2 out, stayed on, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Lenny The Blade (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
