held up in touch and keen, weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, clear from next, hit last, kept on well
tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
held up in rear, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase winner from 2 out, kept on from last, no chance with winner
with leader, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed after 4 out, outpaced from next, left 3rd last, kept on
held up in touch, chased winner approaching 3 out, 12 lengths down in 3rd and held when fell last
held up and keen, headway 4 out, no impression from 3 out, beat when left 4th and slightly hampered last
Our shortlisted three here are First Look, Turbo and Carapuce, with the vote going to First Look. First Look is lightly raced and has the look of an improver, particularly based on his second to Harmony Brig two runs ago. The step up in trip today could also suit him well. Carapuce and Aston Lad are the course and distance winners in the line-up, but the former keeps getting raised for getting beaten and the latter has a big hike for his win to contend with. The lightly-raced River Alder was beaten off his revised mark last time, while, although he is winless since April 2004, Greenfield holds a chance based on his third to Jaunty Times two runs ago, although he has yet to run this year. Front Rank won at the first time of asking for new connections last time but a 16 pounds ratings hike will not make life easy but, following on from his 12-length defeat of Patxaran (who runs earlier on the card) last time, Turbo rates a danger to all, and he too has scope for improvement over today's longer trip. Muckle Flugga won two on the bounce last spring and could still be competitively weighted, and he was brought down early on his return from a break last time. The other pair have something to prove, although Crackleando is at least dropping in the weights and we know that Time To Roam can win from his current rating but he is also inconsistent. All of which returns us to the selection, which is First Look.
Carapuce (FR) 13-2 (11-10) Mid-division, mistake 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 31l behind Corlande (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
First Look (FR) 7-2 (11-0) In touch, challenged 3 out, lead narrowly next, headed last, kept on well, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Harmony Brig (11-10) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Aston Lad 5-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway 7th, effort 4 out, no impression, 5th of 15, 31l behind Fair Question (11-1) at Ayr 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Front Rank (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Led to 4th, led again approaching 3 out, clear after next, easily, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb beating Lagudin (11-9) by 13l, 12 ran.
Turbo (IRE) 2-1fav (10-13) Held up, headway after 3 out, stayed on to lead after last, driven clear flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Patxaran (10-2) by 12l, 8 ran.
Muckle Flugga (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up, badly hampered and brought down at the 2nd in race won by Birdwatch (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Time To Roam (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, 3rd of 13, 13l behind Birdwatch (11-0) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
River Alder 7-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 18, well behind Russian Sky (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec.
