led after 1st, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led before 3 out, soon hard pressed, ridden and headed next, kept on same pace, lost 2nd flat
led to after 1st, tracked leaders, lost place 9th, ridden, outpaced 3 out, rallied when mistake last, went 2nd flat, no impression
held up, headway 4 out, challenged next, led going well 2 out, shaken up approaching last, stayed on well
held up in rear, outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up, some headway 4 out, weakened next
held up, ridden to chase leaders before 3 out, one pace, no impression from next
Nonrunner
The trio for the shortlist in this handicap hurdle are DANCING DIK, Terenzium and Bold Ransom with the confident nod going to Dancing Dik. Chris Grant's five-year-old has run some solid races over hurdles and he arrives here on the back of a solid effort at Catterick last month when he chased home Sendali. He looks worth a try over this longer trip and we fancy him to last home and score. Terenzium is another stepping into the unknown over this longer trip and he ran well enough here in January when he chased home Pagan Starprincess. He goes well here and he should be capable of making the frame. Bold Ransom could be the one to exploit any chinks in the armour of his rivals as we know he will definitely see out this trip, although his best form is with plenty of give underfoot. Character Building is another with proven stamina who could make some each-way appeal, but if Dancing Dik gets home then he should prove tough to beat.
Harmony Brig (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Behind, mistake 10th, struggling 12th, tailed off 4 out, 11th of 14, well behind Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Captain Americo (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Raced on inside, held up in rear, under pressure after 7th, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Fistral Beach (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Bold Ransom (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place from 13th, pushed along 20th, headway 3 out, blundered 2 out, one pace from last, 2nd of 9, 16l behind L'aventure (10-11) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Dancing Dik 14-1 (10-10) Led to 1st, tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied 2 out, ridden and rallied and every chance last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Sendali (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Dzesmin (POL) 6-5fav (10-12) Held up in touch, led 3 out, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov '08 beating Border Reiver (11-5) by 2l, 14 ran.
Romping Home (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Held up last, hit 7th, not fluent 8th, went 2nd 11th, took closer order 3 out, ridden and led last, quickened clear flat, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (4) gs in Nov '08 beating Katess (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Terenzium (IRE) 13-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, outpaced between last 2, stayed on from last, held near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Pagan Starprincess (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec.
Character Building (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 16th, tracking leaders going well from 3 out, challenged before last, led flat, edged right, pushed out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar beating Pretty Star (10-13) by 1l, 24 ran.
