led and soon clear, reduced lead 5th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, driven and rallied next, plugged on flat
close up, jumped slow 6th and reminders, soon in rear, pulled up 9th
chased leader until ridden 10th, chased leading pair when mistake 3 out, jumped right 2 out and last, plugged on
not fluent and jumped right soon ridden and behind, struggling from 7th, pulled up 10th
close up, ridden 10th, weakening when blundered 3 out
in touch, chased leader 10th, led approaching 3 out, driven out flat
Hopeand has something to prove stepping up in trip after a 15lb hike in the weights for an easy win at Southwell. DETOUR AHEAD ran well for a long way on her return to action at Carlisle but faded badly in the closing stages. She'll be sharper today and Jennie Candish's mare gets the nod. It took Croco Mister 14 attempts before he finally won over fences at Plumpton last time so a 6lb rise doesn't bode well for his chances, while Molko Jack failed to follow-up his earlier win at Southwell when finding one too good at this track on his latest start.
Hopeand 3-1fav (11-2) Made all, drew clear on bit after 4 out, unchallenged after, won at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft beating Finch Flyer (9-13) by 28l, 6 ran.
Weston Lodge (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked winner until 3rd, quickliy weakened and not fluent from 7th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Last Shot (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Detour Ahead 25-1 (11-6) Chased leders, mistake 3 out, jumped right last, no extra and lost 3rd place run-in, 6th of 8, 19l behind Tutchec (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Gorey Lane (IRE) 4-1fav (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 17l behind Markadam (11-3) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Croco Mister (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Held up, left 3rd 6th, not fluent next, went 2nd 9th until 3 out (normal 4 out), left 2nd again after omitted next fence, led before 2 out, soon clear, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft beating Mister Wiseman (11-9) by 6l, 6 ran.
Molko Jack (FR) 6-1 (10-13) In rear, ridden and headway 4 out, left 2nd before next, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Legendary Hop (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
