tracked leaders, weakened after 12th
held up, headway after 5th, chased winner after 3 out, ridden from last, not quicken
held up in rear, headway 7th, tracked leaders after 3 out, quickly weakened 2 out, pulled up and dismounted after last
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
held up in touch, ridden 3 out, chased leading pair from next, no impression
held up, headway after 12th, weakened after 3 out
held up, in touch, headway 11th, led after 3 out, ridden next, driven out
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hit 4th, driven, lost place from next, tailed off, when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, reminders 2nd, behind from 5th
led, ridden, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching next
American is a tentative choice over old stagers Crazy Horse and Cill Churnain; while the Tony McCoy magic is a big plus for Predicament, who is still lightly raced and may have more to offer. Vicars Destiny provides a reliable form line with McCoy's mount and there should not be too much between them again today. Cill Churnain likes his racing at Market Rasen and still has the ability to figure at this level. He reverts to hurdles on a handy mark and looks a reliable option for placepot punters looking for an upset. Crazy Horse would also fit that profile if his mood could be predicted. His last two starts have been encouraging though, and he is no forlorn hope to make the frame again this afternoon. However, Euro American ran a blinder against the progressive Hoh Viss at Southwell 20 days ago and will be very hard to get past if he is in a similar frame of mind. Alan Dempsey knows him well and the partnership are fancied to lead the rest a merry dance if all goes to plan.
Ardashir (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Close up, ridden 4 out, blundered and weakened 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Regal Vision (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Dec, 15 ran.
Euro American (GER) 15-2 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden to lead approaching last, headed soon after, kept on, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Hoh Viss (10-11) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Crazy Horse (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up, headway between last 2, ran on strongly flat, nearest finish, 2nd of 16, 10l behind Culcabock (9-10) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Cill Churnain (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Close up on outside, hit 15th, soon outpaced, beaten when not fluent last, 5th of 9, 23l behind Prince of Slane (10-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jan.
Vicars Destiny 7-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and hit next, no impression after, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Albany (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Predicament 5-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, hit 6th, headway after 4 out, one pace and no impression from 2 out, 4th of 8, 11l behind Albany (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Day Of Claies (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Piran (10-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jan, 18 ran.
Grattan Lodge (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Soon ridden in rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Drumbeater (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Sheer Guts (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, driven along after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Joe Brown (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Altitude Dancer (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 8th of 16, 24l behind Not Today Sir (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Jamaican Flight (USA) 50-1 (11-4) Led early, ridden after 4th, weakened after next, 8th of 13, 37l behind Ellway Prospect (10-5) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
