tracked leaders, headway to lead 5 out, kept on from 3 out, ridden clear flat
held up, not fluent 10th, mistake 12th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, effort under pressure 4 out, went 3rd next, soon ridden, kept on from 2 out, no impression
led to 11th, lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off
close up on outside, chased winner and clear second approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from next, no impression
held up in touch, mistake 11th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, led 11th, headed 5 out, ridden and outpaced after next, soon lost place, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
This looks a good opportunity for TEAMGEIST who is taken to get the better of Shrewd Investor and Lorum Leader. The selection may be an 8-year-old, but he remains unexposed and he definitely has conditions to his liking here. He may have won had he not made a bad blunder last time out and if he jump more fluently here then he should take plenty of beating. Shrewd Investor looked a little one-paced at Carlisle last month and although he has place claims here, there is the suspicion that the handicapper might just have his measure. Lorum Leader is back over fences after a disappointing run over hurdles last time and it is worth noting that he ran a blinder on his only previous run at this venue. Rosie All Over has conditions to suit but she may need a pipe-opener before she is seen at her best and we will stick with Teamgeist as the pick.
Lorum Leader (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Led, hit 4th, not fluent and headed 9th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Benbane Head (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gf in Oct.
Portavadie 25-1 (11-3) In rear, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on from next, no impression, 5th of 8, 6l behind Some Touch (11-6) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Royal Rosa (FR) 66-1 (9-11) Held up, outpaced 18th, kept on from 3 out, no impression, 6th of 24, 34l behind Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr '08.
Teamgeist (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Soon held up in 5th, blundered 11th and ridder lost irons, headway 14th, chased winner 2 out, closed flat, always held, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Amoreigh (10-1) at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo Am hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden after 5 out, kept on 3 out, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Description (10-11) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 66-1 (10-7) Always behind, 11th of 18, 31l behind Big Eared Fran (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Rosie All Over 7-2 (11-8) Led to 1st, tracked leaders, ridden 11th, weakened from 13th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Fiftyfive Degrees (10-9) at Newcastle 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar, 5 ran.
Carryduff 18-1 (10-12) Towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 12, well behind Darina's Boy (10-5) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
