mid-division, bumped and fell 5th
led 2nd, clear 6th, headed approaching 3 out, tailed off
in rear, soon pushed along, mid-division 11th, struggling 13th
in rear, well behind 6th, mistake 10th, pulled up before next
mid-division, jumped left 5th, hit 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
blundered badly 1st, held up in rear, headway after 13th, led 3 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well
mid-division, blundered 5th, not fluent and lost place 11th, soon weakened and tailed off, pulled up after
held up towards rear, pulled up before 10th
mid-division, headway 10th, not fluent 13th, weakened 4 out
led until 2nd, chased leader until 10th, weakened 4 out
in rear, mistake 1st, well behind 6th, tailed off when blundered next, pulled up soon after
mid-division, mistake 8th, outpaced approaching 12th, no impression after
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th until 14th, rallied to lead approaching 3 out, soon headed, no chance with winner when jumped right 2 out
held up towards rear, headway to go 5th after 4 out, 3rd before next, one pace
chased leaders, went 2nd 14th briefly, weakening when blundered 2 out
Few solid performers in this line-up as the generous littering of headgear suggests but there are any number capable of winning and our short-list comprises LAUDAMUS, Raki Rose and Master Cobbler. The Alner's twelve year old earns the narrow vote to record the third success of his career as he's fairly treated on the best of his form and has run well over course and distance. He will have to leave the form of his reappearance a long way behind but it's possible that he may just have needed the run and could do so. Raki Rose fell on his first outing since 2008 but he was suited by this sort of test in the past and looks capable of playing a hand if able to recapture that level of form. Master Cobbler has a little to prove in terms of his stamina but the drying conditions should certainly play to his strengths and we could see a better performance as a result. Whitewater Dash has disappointed over hurdles lately but may fare better now returned to chasing whilst Sandymac, Jacarado, New Mill Moll and Noble Future are others to cast an eye over but Laudamus gets the nod.
Maori Legend 7-2fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 15, 36l behind Carrickmines (11-12) at Ludlow 3m cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Ajzal (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along 7th, weakened approaching 10th, 7th of 12, well behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Sandymac (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, dropped rear after 13th, no danger after, 6th of 13, 21l behind Plum Pudding (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
New Mill Moll 50-1 (10-7) Held up in rear and keen, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 40l behind Topsham Belle (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Chased leader, not fluent 11th, lost 2nd approaching 3 out and weakened before next, 5th of 9, 17l behind Too Forward (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Whitewater Dash 25-1 (11-3) Always rear division, 9th of 17, 25l behind Lady Bling Bling (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Raki Rose 8-1 (11-3) With leader, led 4th until before next, pressing when fell 10th, in a race won by Wherrimon (11-1) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy, 10 ran.
Laudamus 5-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, blundered 8th, jumped slowly next, went poor 3rd 4 out, 3rd of 8, well behind Midnight Haze (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Caspar of Tarsus (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) In touch, mistake 2nd, not fluent 10th, went 2nd approaching 12th, led next, clear after 2 out, all out, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb beating Brandy And Pep (9-11) by 1l, 15 ran.
Ross Leader (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, steadied after 2nd, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by The Thirsty Bricky (11-12) at Towcester 2m hcp ch 0-95 (5) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Acosta 28-1 (11-7) In rear, soon pushed along, headway approaching 3 out, soon no further progress, 4th of 14, 33l behind My Skipper (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb.
Nearly A Breeze 33-1 (10-9) Prominent to 9th, 12th of 15, well behind Dawn At Sea (11-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Jacarado (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Made most to 8th, led 11th to 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 35l behind PonchaTrain (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Noble Future 6-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway when hampered 5th, jumped left 8th, every chance 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 15, 18l behind Carrickmines (11-12) at Ludlow 3m cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Kercabellec (FR) 20-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd and hit 4th, in 4th and chasing leaders when fell 6th, in a race won by Kinkeel (9-13) at Southwell 2m cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 9 ran.
Intense Suspense (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon behind, no danger after, 10th of 13, 39l behind Star Galaxy (9-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
