tracked leaders, raced keenly, ridden after 7th, weakened after 3 out
led, headed approaching 7th, weakened after 7th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led approaching 7th, edged left approaching 2 out, clear when not fluent last, ran on well
chased leader to 5th, ridden before next, chased winner 7th until approaching 3 out, one pace before 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, pushed along before 6th, chased winner approaching 3 out and close up, weakened flat
Nonrunner
Nosferatu could be very well-handicapped but he is hard to back with much confidence over this trip and instead we will side with handicap debutant CRASHTOWN HALL. Tim Vaughan's gelding showed a good attitude when beating Fruity O'Rooney last time at Fontwell. That was the second win of his career (first one was for Colin Tinkler) and a mark of 112 looks about right on the evidence so far, although it may look lenient on a line through the 123-rated The Old Pretender who Fruity O'Rooney beat previously at Folkestone. Dantari is interesting if turning up (alternative engagement at Newbury on Saturday), whilst War Footing and Sir Monty are open to improvement. Gunnadoit is the sole course and distance winner in the line-up and Neil King's four-year-old may find some improvement for that first win over hurdles. However he has a 9lb higher mark as a result and that looks too much. Idris needs watching in the betting whilst Quasimodo has not been ringing any bells of late. A good chance for Crashtown Hall to win again.
Crashtown Hall (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Mostly chased leader, led 2 out, ridden and wandered right and left flat, stayed on and in command towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs beating Fruity O'Rooney (11-10) by 2l, 9 ran.
Nosferatu (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Mid-division until weakened after 4 out, soon beaten, 12th of 14, well behind Strobe (9-13) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb.
Petrus De Sormain (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 5th, kept on, 4th of 14, 6l behind Dantari (10-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Sir Monty (USA) 12-1 (10-11) Pushed along intermittently, chased leaders on outside, weakened after 9th, remote 3rd when blundered last, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Sashenka (10-10) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Gunnadoit (USA) 8-1 (10-8) In touch, led after 4 out, ridden and ran wide on bend approaching 2 out, clear last, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Castlemainevillage (11-6) by 7l, 17 ran.
Idris (GER) 16-1 (10-10) Jumped slowly 2nd, soon towards rear, some headway after 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 11th of 19, 25l behind Cathedral Rock (11-10) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
War Footing 66-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, hit last, kept on steadily run-in, 4th of 12, 8l behind Postmaster (11-9) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Dantari (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Tracked leader, led after 5th, ridden clear last, edged right flat, kept on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Swainson (10-12) by 5l, 14 ran.
Quasimodo (GB) 16-1 (10-8) Prominent, led after 8th, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 11, 20l behind Quarl Ego (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
