mid-division until weakened approaching 12th
always behind, blundered 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mistake 7th, always behind
soon towards rear, mistake 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 13th and 14th, ridden 4 out, left 3rd 3 out, one pace flat
in touch, jumped slowly and reminders 6th, hit 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
with leader and jumped left, led 10th, not fluent next, headed approaching 12th, led again and hit 13th, ridden 4 out, headed last, stayed on
made most 10th, led again and hit 12th, headed next, ridden 4 out, every chance when stumbled and unseated rider 3 out
held up, headway 7th, hit 12th, ridden 4 out, weakening when hit 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 11th, ridden and hit 2 out, led last, ran on
The Dark Lord, Martha's Kinsman and Nayodabayo are those for the shortlist in a competitive Novices' Chase with The Dark Lord getting a tentative vote. The Lucy Wadham-trained, nine-year-old was easily the best of these over hurdles and made a decent start to his chasing career when winning at Fakenham last October. He is prone to jumping errors and his confidence suffered because of this and he had been disappointing so far this season but appeared to finding some form again last month when he was third in a competitive Newbury-handicap. A repeat of that performance can see him go close here and he is likely to go off at a decent price. Of the remainder, Martha's Kinsman has obvious claims on the basis of his recent win over this course and distance. He stayed on to beat Dickensbury Lad by a half-length but that was a moderate, beginner's chase and he will find this a lot more competitive. Nayobadayo won a novice-chase round here last December and is upped in trip today. He is another who is prone to making errors over fences and has fell twice including when looking the likely winner at Wincanton in January. He will undoubtedly win a race of this standard but his jumping cannot be relied upon and so others are preferred today, including our selection The Dark Lord.
Barcelona 50-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden approaching 2 out, never near leaders, 5th of 11, 16l behind Broke Road (11-6) at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Go For Bust 9-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 26l behind Ile Maurice (10-2) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Jonanaud 25-1 (10-7) Always in rear, never a danger, 5th of 8, 16l behind Chilling Place (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs.
Let's Rock 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 6th, reminders before next, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 30l behind Cossack Dancer (11-2) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gd in Mar.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) In touch, led 2 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 3m beg chs (4) gf in Feb beating Dickensbury Lad (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mesmeric (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Behind, headway 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off whent pulled up 2 out in race won by Ranelagh Gray (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Mioche d'Estruval (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, bumped 1st, mistakes 3rd and 4th, headway 10th, ridden to lead after 4 out, headed soon after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 15, 15l behind Umbrella Man (11-2) at Stratford 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Nayodabayo (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, hit 6th, quickened clear 10th, ridden 2 out, well clear when fell at the last in race won by Simon (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (4) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
Portavo (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Towards rear, ridden 13th, weakened next, 8th of 15, 35l behind Umbrella Man (11-2) at Stratford 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, mistake 10th, pushed along from 3 out, one pace in 3rd and held when blundered last, 3rd of 17, 11l behind Yardbird (10-9) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
