jumped well, led until approaching 2nd, led 8th, stayed on gamely flat
reluctant to race, headway to go prominent 3rd, lost place 10th, soon behind, mistake last
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened last
led approaching 2nd, headed 8th, hit 10th, weakened approaching 13th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 12th, weakened approaching 2 out, blundered last
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th or 10th, chased winner before next, hit 3 out, blundered 2 out, lost 2nd after hitting last, one pace
mid-division, pecked 2nd, jumped slowly several times after, headway after 10th, went 2nd after last, stayed on under pressure, unable to get to winner
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, not fluent 9th, headway next, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, mistake 8th, headway after 12th, weakened 4 out, mistake 3 out
With Noakarad De Verzee having to shoulder a big weight this is best left to RAPID INCREASE. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has improved for stepping up to this sort of trip of late and a 3lb rise for taking second last time appears fair. He's a proven stayer who enjoys a bit of cut and with AP up will likely start favourite, but on balance that seems fair and a bold show is expected. Not that this will be easy, particularly if David Maxwell sets testing fractions up front on Noakared De Verzee. Positive tactics saw the pair combine to winning effect here last time and with conditions set to be almost identical another big run looks on the cards, but a 9lb rise looks enough to prevent the follow-up. Mister Potter is a thorough stayer who is back down to his last winning mark, so if he's been revitalised by a break since being pulled up last time then a place is possible, but a safer option each way might be Kilkenny All Star. The nine-year-old looks the pick of Sue Smith's pair having gone well for this jockey under similar conditions in the past. He was beaten plenty far enough last time but now returns to a fair mark, so if he stays three miles at the third attempt then this relatively unexposed sort could have a big say in the outcome of the race. Simply Smashing has no trip concerns but this ground will surely prove too soft so he's taken on alongside Pantalaimon who remains a maiden under rules. Misty Dancer should not be totally dismissed despite some poor efforts of late though on balance his best efforts seem to come at shorter trips, so we'll return to Rapid Increase who can add to his string of good efforts.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Made virtually all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb beating Pipo De Re (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mister Potter 7-1 (11-6) Ran in snatches, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bertie May (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Misty Dancer 25-1 (10-13) Held up, in rear, steady headway into 6th when blundered 4 out, struggling after, not recover, 7th of 11, 42l behind Nicto De Beauchene (10-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Our Armageddon (NZ) 9-1 (11-0) Chased clear leader, weakened 12th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Cloudy Lane (11-12) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb '08, 5 ran.
Kilkenny All Star (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened next, tailed off, 3rd of 4, well behind Khachaturian (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Himalayan Trail 15-2 (10-2) Held up, in touch, mistake 2nd, hit 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 22l behind BallaBriggs (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Rapid Increase (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 4 out, chased leader 3 out, 3 lengths down in 2nd when hit 2 out, no impression soon after, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Sharajan (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Simply Smashing (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced approaching 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 10, 13l behind Waterski (10-4) at Kelso 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Chico Time (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Towards rear, mistake 4th, slightly hampered 9th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure, nearest finish, 3rd of 18, 20l behind Rebeccas Choice (11-1) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Pantalaimon 7-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, pulled up before 4 out, tailed off, in a race won by Wogan (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
