raced wide, held up, weakened and pulled up before 12th
prominent, lost place 6th, weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, outpaced 13, never dangerous
held up, headway and in touch 14th, effort between last 2, disputed lead last, ridden and kept on
chased leaders, led 4 out to next, kept on same pace
chased leaders, challenged before 14th, outpaced 3 out, no impression from next
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced when blundered 3 out, never on terms
with leader, lost place 12th, soon behind, pulled up before 15th
made most, headed 4 out, outpaced when pecked next, soon beaten
held up in rear, steady headway and in touch 3 out, ridden and no extra from next
chased leaders to 5th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
always behind, lost touch and pulled up before 11th
towards rear, ridden 14th, some headway after next, soon weakened, pulled up after 3 out
held up, headway and in touch halfway, headway to lead 3 out, ridden and hard pressed last, stayed on under pressure flat
mid-division, outpaced 15th, rallied approaching 3 out, weakened next
in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon behind
towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 4th
SEEK THE TRUTH heads the short-list from Korelo and Astyanax. This may well turn out to be as competitive as the numbers suggest but Seek The Truth has standout claims in this field and may well be able to gain a second success over fences. He was a long way behind Mitchel Henry in February but bounced back to form with a second to an unexposed runner at Newcastle and remains feasibly treated. Korelo may not be the force of old but that's reflected in his handicap mark and the veteran campaigner has been in fine form of late. He was doing all of his best work in the closing stages over course and distance last time and shouldn't be far away. Astyanax has been raised 9lbs for winning at Carlisle and it remains to be seen if he can build on that as consistency hasn't been a strong suit but he can play a leading role if in the same form. Benbeoch went well last time and Hows Trix is one to note on debut for a powerful yard but it's to Seek The Truth that we look to for the answer.
Hows Trix (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Mid-division, 7th halfway, headway to 3rd after 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to challenge last, kept on well to lead last strides, won at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 gd in Apr '08 beating Renepogel (10-10) by hd, 16 ran.
Beauchamp Prince (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Held up, closed 18th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, mistake last, 4th of 12, 9l behind BallyGalley Bob (11-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
La Pantera Rosa (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Held up, reminders 8th, towards rear when hampered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Nile Moon (10-10) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Korelo (FR) 8-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway 5 out, outpaced next, rallied between last 2, stayed on to chase winner flat, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Darina's Boy (10-5) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Astyanax (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Made most until headed 2 out, led again last, ridden out, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd beating Sands Rising (10-10) by 8l, 12 ran.
Mitchel Henry (IRE) 5-1fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 10th, no impression from 3 out, 6th of 12, 49l behind Nelliedonethat (11-6) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Reckless Venture (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, ridden 10th, soon outpaced, 4th of 6, 44l behind Vicario (11-7) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Now Then Sid 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, well behind when mistake 10th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Iris's Flyer (10-9) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd, 11 ran.
Seek The Truth (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) In touch, left in lead 5th, headed 2 out, challenged and every chance last, kept on, held near finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Jorveybrook (10-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Pendle Forest (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Towards rear, headway and in touch 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 9, 20l behind Bleu Pois (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov stks (4) gd.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Gerrard (11-3) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Benbeoch 10-1 (10-2) In rear, headway 4 out, effort 2 out, kept on from last, held by winner close home, 2nd of 12, nk behind Nelliedonethat (11-6) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Sound Of Cheers 11-1 (9-12) In touch when blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by General Hardi (11-12) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Mar, 8 ran.
Treehouse 7-1 (10-8) Held up, blundered 13th, soon beaten, 10th of 14, well behind Polar Gale (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf.
Silver Dagger 40-1 (9-13) Prominent, weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Boysterous (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy in Nov, 15 ran.
Celtic Flow 28-1 (10-2) Prominent, lost place 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 37l behind Polar Gale (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf.
Hollows Mist 14-1 (10-2) In rear, ridden halfway, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching 10th, 7th of 12, well behind Smart Thinker (11-1) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-90 (4) hvy in Mar.
Esme Rides A Gaine 11-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 5 out, soon beaten, 5th of 12, 17l behind Astyanax (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
