prominent, hampered 4th, ridden approaching 15th, weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders, jumped left 4th, pushed along 8th, lost place next, rallied 4 out, never a threat
chased leaders, under pressure 9th, slow 12th, weakened before 3 out
made all, pushed clear approaching last, ran on well
chased leaders, took closer order 8th, hit 14th, hard driven to chase winner 4 out, stayed on under pressure
Musical Wedge is hard to fancy in this from out of the handicap but the remaining four runners all have some sort of chance. Qulinton is a bit of a character but has ability, though hasn't won over fences since 2011 and was pulled up in the race in which Loughalder finished a well-beaten sixth at Warwick earlier this month. The latter hasn't really fired this season but Take The Mick won at Warwick in January and didn't give his true running at Huntingdon last time. ROLL THE DICE has been frustrating on the whole but is starting to come down the weights again and should last home on this sharp track- he gets a tentative vote.
Take The Mick 3-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, lost place 5th, pushed along 8th, weakened 4 out, modest 4th, last of 4, well behind Fredo (11-3) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Roll The Dice (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place after 11th, in touch 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 19l behind Shuil Royale (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Loughalder (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 7th or 9th, mistake 13th, not fluent 14th, no impression on winner before 16th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 14, well behind Carli King (11-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Qulinton (FR) 10-1 (10-10) In rear, hit 4th, ridden and behind 12th, tailed off 15th, pulled up after, in a race won by Carli King (11-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 14 ran.
Musical Wedge 16-1 (11-12) Led, driven when headed before 4 out, rallied next, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Bebinn (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs.
