mid-division, headway approaching 6th, one pace from 2 out
held up in touch, led 7th, drew clear after 2 out, eased flat
in touch, carried right 1st, behind from 3rd, kept on from 2 out
led, headed 7th, weakened 3 out
with leader, jumped right 1st and throughout, lost place, weakened from 7th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, blundered 4th soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before last
mistake 5th, headway next, weakened 3 out
held up, blundered 2nd, jumped right 3 out when chasing leaders, weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, rallied 8th, chased winner approaching 3 out, no impression
The form of Sue Smith's yard marginally gives the preference to FIRST BOY ahead of the inconsistent Mad Professor and the potentially-useful Gus. The pick as been allotted a similar mark to that to which he was competitive off over timber and his debut over fences was solid enough to suggest there is more to come. The form lines from that race are potentially on the strong side and a marginal improvement from last time might be enough in a race that won't take much winning. Mad Professor was going backwards when falling last time after being up with the pace for much of a better race. A four-pound reprieve in his mark has been award for that and some indifferent performances and the six-year-old now looks well assessed. Gus made several jumping errors before pulling up on his latest attempt in better company and although his mark is looking on the high side he can get involved with a clean jumping performance. It's tricky to make a strong enough case for the others in the field so we won't, with First Boy the pick here.
Mad Professor (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Led and disputed, chased leader after 6th, still every chance 3 out, disputing 4th and weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Laharna (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
First Boy 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, 5th of 7, 29l behind Razor Royale (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Gus 17-2 (10-11) Held up, hit 4th, hit 10th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Matcho Pierji (11-7) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb, 9 ran.
Colliers Court 10-1 (10-9) Led until headed 6th, chased leader until weakened 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Russian Flag (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased clear leader until after 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Cross Kennon (10-13) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl (5) sft, 18 ran.
Italiano 12-1 (11-3) Held up, pushed along after 9th, behind when blundered unseated rider 5 out in race won by Ross Leader (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd, 14 ran.
King Diamond (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leader, hit 3rd, mistake, lost 2nd next, stayed handy until weakened 4 out, well behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Babe Heffron (11-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 8 ran.
Bright Sparky (GER) 100-1 (10-7) Behind, mistake 5th, never dangerous, 14th of 16, well behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Log On Intersky (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Led 2nd, headed 6th, held from 3 out, 4th of 9, 30l behind Nagam (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
