mid-division, mistake 3rd, lost place when not fluent 5th, rallied 9th, struggling when mistake 11th, pulled up before next
held up towards rear on outside, reached mid-division 6th, 5th 4 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, headway 4th, not fluent 8th, weakened 11th, pulled up before 4 out
soon in mid-division, not fluent 5th, weakened approaching 8th, pulled up before 10th
ran in snatches, disputing last 6th, rallied before 11th, oupaced approaching next, modest 7th 3 out, went 3rd before last, ran on well flat
mid-division, ridden before 12th, disputing 5th 4 out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, not fluent 2 out, led approaching last, driven out
led, hard pressed when jumped right 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, steady headway from 7th, well outpaced by leading pair and beaten from 3 out, blundered 2 out
held up towards rear, reminders after 5th, headway approaching 9th, beaten 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, not fluent 7th or 8th, ridden after 9th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after
pressed leader until 12th, weakened 4 out
Ultimate Limit and Cousin Nicky have obvious claims but a more intriguing proposition is STAR PLAYER. There's no doubt that the selection has plenty to prove having pulled up on his last two starts that were separated by over twenty months but he should be priced accordingly and could have a say if retaining his ability. He was entitled to need his reappearance at Newcastle and it's interesting to see him reunited with Denis O'Regan who is unbeaten in two rides aboard the gelding. Ultimate Limit has to be feared but he was turned over at odds-on in last year's renewal when racing from a 22lb lower mark and this trip with a little cut in the ground could test his stamina to the limit. Cousin Nicky ran well on just his second start for Giles Smyly and remains feasibly handicapped on the best of his old form so he should have a say in proceedings whilst the likes of Marcus Du Berlais, Alexanderthegreat and Killard Point could all figure if suddenly recapturing the form of their glory days but we'll take a chance that Star Player can do just that.
Cousin Nicky 12-1 (11-1) Chased leader until 10th, every chance 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on well towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Plum Pudding (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Ultimate Limit 5-2fav (10-13) Held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, soon led, edged right flat, ridden and kept on until headed, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 18-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 12th, weakened 5 out, pulled up after next, in a race won by BallaBriggs (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Star Player (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) In touch, mistake 3rd, lost place after 8th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Its Teescomponents (10-1) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Newman Des Plages (FR) 11-1 (10-3) With leader, led 4th, headed 5 out, weakened approaching 3 out, in 3rd and held when hit last, 3rd of 7, 11l behind BallaBriggs (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 17, 38l behind Sound Stage (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Dec.
The Shy Man (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Bumped 1st, soon in touch, led 12th until 13th, every chance when fell 3 out, in a race won by Ringaroses (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Killard Point (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Buffalo Bob (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Western Whisky (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway 6th, led 12th, headed approaching 2 out, beaten before last, 4th of 10, 14l behind Ya I Know (10-2) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Island Life (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Prominent until 3rd, rallied 5th, weakened 7th, left poor 4th 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, 40l behind Pret A Thou (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Marcus Du Berlais (FR) 4-1 (12-0) Mid div, prog to 4th at 8th, 2nd 3out, sn ld & hdd 2out, onepcd closing stages, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Shuil Coillte (12-0) at Punchestown 3m ire ptp in Feb.
Panama At Once 18-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, outpaced 4 out, never in contention, 5th of 10, 21l behind Ya I Know (10-2) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
