held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 2 out, soon ridden, effort, one pace flat
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out
prominent, led 3rd, headed after 3 out, every chance last, weakened flat
in touch, headway 3 out, every chance flat, kept on
soon tailed off
in touch, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, effort 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed flat, no extra
always behind
led to 3rd, remained close up, weakened 3 out
mid-division, smooth headway approaching 2 out, challenged last, rallied to lead towards finish
mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out
towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, weakened 3 out
mid-division, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened
Lethem Air, Shares and Robert The Bruce form the shortlist for this handicap hurdle and the narrow vote is given to Lethem Air. The selection has clearly improved for the fitting of cheekpieces which are on again today, and he ran well enough when second behind Tous Chez at Newcastle last time to make him the one to beat today. Shares rates the main danger as he will like the ground and he returns to this sphere after a spell over the bigger obstacles. He has fallen on each of his last two starts over fences but he was travelling well when he went down last time out. Robert The Bruce looks like he could be on a winning mark on the evidence of a good effort at Carlisle last time when he wasn't beaten far behind Front Rank. Len Lungo's runners are always entitled to respect here so he is certainly worth a look in the market. Bob's Buster is a course and distance winner and is another with strong place prospects, but in a competitive contest we will stick with Lethem Air to lead them home.
Shares (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, steady headway and in touch when fell at the 7th in race won by Seeyaaj (10-2) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar, 10 ran.
Diamond Mick 11-2 (11-2) Led, headed before 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Danse Macabre (11-2) at Sandown 2m amt hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Lethem Air 10-3 (10-7) In touch, disputed lead 4th, effort 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 13l behind Tous Chez (11-0) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Robert The Bruce 16-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 4 out, went poor 3rd last, no impression, 3rd of 12, 18l behind Front Rank (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
North Landing (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Towards rear, struggling 6th, behind when fell 4 out in race won by Seymar Lad (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb, 19 ran.
Lord Baskerville 7-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 4 out, led 2 out, headed flat, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Winds Supreme (10-2) at Newcastle 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Bob's Buster 3-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway and in touch 4 out, hit 2 out, kept on flat, not reach leaders, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Flaming Heck (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Mar.
Fearless Foursome 8-1 (11-3) Behind, tailed off from 4th pulled up 3 out in race won by Nifty Roy (10-3) at Ayr 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Maradan (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, dropped rear 3rd, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Seymar Lad (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb, 19 ran.
Gospel Song 14-1 (10-6) Close up, ridden and weakened 5th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Silken Pearls (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Mar, 7 ran.
Acceleration (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) In touch, hit 5th, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 9, 35l behind Bohemian Spirit (11-0) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Mr Twins (ARG) 40-1 (10-6) Hit 4th, always behind, 7th of 14, 40l behind Villago (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs in Nov.
Another Taipan (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear pulled up at the 11th in race won by Fountain Brig (10-0) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Crosby Dancer 150-1 (11-2) Mid-division when blundered and fell 5 out in race won by Rehearsal (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (F) gd in Feb '05, 14 ran.
Browneyes Blue (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 17, 29l behind Oscar The Boxer (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Polly Whitefoot 16-1 (10-2) In touch, weakened 3 out, 12th of 16, 48l behind Sunday City (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
