rear of main group, struggling when mistake 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
never travelling or jumping in rear, ridden 7th, soon struggling, tailed off 11th
held up in touch, hit 12th, headway to chase leader 3 out, every chance after 2 out, weakened last
chased leader, led 4th, mistake and headed 13th, soon weakened
in touch, ridden 10th, mistake and lost place 11th, rallied approaching 2 out, kept on well flat, went 3rd towards finish
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 13th, ridden soon after 2 out, tired and headed before last, weakened badly flat
held up in touch, tracked leading pair 9th until weakened after 11th
led to 4th, chased leader to 6th, prominent until jumped left 9th, mistake 14th, rallied from 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, went left, stayed on strongly flat
always in rear, struggling from 12th, tailed off
The ground is more suitable for Jack The Blaster today and a big run is expected however the drop in trip may see an improved performance from ZANZIBAR BOY who is selected ahead of the recent winners Mizen Raven and Fire And Rain. Nicky Henderson's ten-year-old was disappointing on his recent reappearance at Sandown. Having won easily at Towcester in December, he was then well-beaten off a 20lb higher mark next time up when he made some bad jumping errors. It might be that he is atrociously handicapped now but it might pay to give him one more chance now dropped back in distance. Cybora, racing off a mark of 100, doesn't look to be on too stiff a mark until we discover that both wins have come off a mark of 89, so a bigger danger may be By George who has some solid form to his name but has looked a little reluctant to go past recently. South Bank and Keepthedreamalive continue to run well in defeat, whilst Mizen Raven has been around the yards but looked a different horse when winning easily last time out. Fire And Rain also put up a much improved display when winning at Kempton but a tendency to jump out to his left is not ideal and so it is Zanzibar Boy who is taken to lead them home.
Jack The Blaster 8-1 (11-6) Held up, steady headway 10th, went 2nd next, challenged 2 out, ridden last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Daldini (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Keepthedreamalive 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, reminders 7th, outpaced and hit 12th, struggling next, 4th of 7, 21l behind Busy Isit (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Mizen Raven (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 7th, went 2nd 11th, bumped and led 13th, clear last, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Haar (11-12) by 8l, 7 ran.
Launde (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Held up, headway 12th, lost place when mistake next, progress approaching 4 out, weakened after 2 out, not fluent and hampered last, 3rd of 9, 20l behind College Ace (11-8) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
By George (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, blundered 4th, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on from 2 out, stayed on flat, not reached leaders, 5th of 9, 8l behind Very Cool (10-8) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Feb.
Zanzibar Boy 10-11fav (11-3) Held up in touch, ridden 16th, struggling after 4 out, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Zacharova (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
South Bank (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Chased winner to approaching 4 out, stayed chasing leaders, went 2nd flat and kept on towards finish, always held, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Very Cool (10-8) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Feb.
Fire And Rain (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Made all, jumped left final circuit, clear after 4 out, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Ballyman (10-5) by 18l, 9 ran.
Cybora (FR) 5-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 10th, stayed on under pressure to chase winner 3 out to before last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Stagecoach Amber (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
