took keen hold in rear, mistake 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
prominent, lost place 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before next
held up in rear, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
pressed leader until 11th, soon ridden, weakened 4 out
made most until 4 out, stayed challenging winner, upsides last, held close home
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd after 12th, outpaced before 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear on outside, not fluent 4th, headway 8th, challenged 11th, led 4 out, remained hard pressed, edged left after 2 out, stayed on flat
Nonrunner
Richard Guest's Ukrainian Star ran better when a fair fourth behind Plum Pudding here over three miles on his latest start in January and he has to be considered racing off a 6lb lower mark today but more solid claims are held by KINKEEL, who gets the vote ahead of Roussea. Michael Scudamore's gelding has been running consistently well of late having been placed in his last three starts all off marks of 90 and he has every chance off a 3lb lower mark today. Caroline Bailey's Donald Will Do is better than he showed at Market Rasen last time but the dual point winner has only scored once from 25 starts under rules and looks booked for a place at best. Stable companion Gemini Storm ran better when last seen in October 2008 when trained by Owen Brennan and now makes his debut for new connections so could be of interest if the market speaks in his favour. A safer option looks to be Tony Carroll's Kinkeel though and, having run well in his last two starts when winning at Southwell and finding just one too good at Sedgefield, he looks the one to beat racing off the same mark as last time.
Scalini's (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, went modest 5th approaching 4th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Star Galaxy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 50-1 (11-5) Close up, pushed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 17, 18l behind Overlaw (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
Roussea (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went modest 3rd near finish, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Cesium (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Donald Will Do (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Led, headed 7th, soon lost place, 8th of 9, well behind Omix D'or (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Kinkeel (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 5th, chased winner on long run to 3 out, hit 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Teerie Express (10-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Ukrainian Star (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Mid-division, blundered badly 10th and nearly fell, rallied 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 13, 19l behind Plum Pudding (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Gemini Storm 13-2 (10-2) In touch, ridden 3 out, kept on, unable to quicken flat, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Leopold (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Oct '08.
Moon Melody (GER) 20-1 (10-10) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Caspar Of Tarsus (11-6) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
