last pair, awkward 5th, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten, tailed off
tracked leading pair, went 2nd going well 4 out, challenged next, led on bit before 2 out, came clear between last 2, unextended
held up in 6th, dropped to rear before 12th, blundered and unseated rider 15th
took keen hold early, in touch, ridden before 18th, struggling in 5th 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before last
led until hit 12th and headed, chased leader, hit 18th, lost 2nd 4 out, no impression when lost 3rd before 2 out, weakened
took keen hold early stages, close up until lost place 9th, ridden 14th, lost touch 16th, still in rear when hit 3 out, stayed on from next, went modest 4th last
chased leader, led 12th, joined 3 out, ridden and headed before next, no chance with unextended winner
held up in rear, hit 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, went modest 3rd appproaching 2 out
Fit To Drive won over C&D in November but was pulled up on a return visit to the track last month. Having won at Market Rasen and Newbury in November, Sarde was pulled up in heavy ground in better company at Haydock last time and his stable has gone off the boil a little lately. Appleaday couldn't take advantage of what looked a decent mark at Newbury last week, while Prophete De Guye may be out of his depth in this grade and Circus Of Dreams continues to look a hard ride. Paul Nicholls saddles both Five Dream and French import Mon Parrain, who returns from a lay-off, but the one to beat is probably REAR GUNNER. Diana Grissell's nine-year-old won easily at Kempton before finishing a fair second to Squadron at Huntingdon and his sound jumping should serve him well around here.
Five Dream (FR) 11-1 (10-3) Mid-division on outer, hit 4th, jumped slow 8th, detached from next, tailed off 11th, 11th of 15, 41l behind Tartak (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Mon Parrain (FR) (11-0) 3rd of 10, 10l behind Soulongy (10-7) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 4f chs in Jun.
Fit To Drive 14-1 (11-6) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 8th, not fluent 17th, lost 2nd next, weakened before 4 out, poor 6th when pulled up before last, in a race won by Qhilimar (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Sarde (FR) 10-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 12th, soon struggling, tailed off, soon pulled up, in a race won by Silver By Nature (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Rear Gunner (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Led until slowed up and headed 3rd, soon led again, headed 5th, led next, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Squadron (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gs in Feb.
Circus of Dreams 12-1 (11-4) In touch in rear, ridden 14th, outpaced by leading pair 3 out, plugged on approaching last, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Wellforth (10-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Appleaday (IRE) 15-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 11, 27l behind Regal Heights (10-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Raced wide, held up in 4th, headway 3 out, went 2nd before next, challenged going well between last 2, led after last, pushed out flat, readily, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb beating Sawpit Supreme (11-2) by 4l, 5 ran.
