led to 5th, led again 9th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, mistake 4th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always behind
held up mid-division, chased leaders 5th, ridden approaching 6 out, in 3rd when blundered 4 out, soon weakened
held up, pushed along approaching 6th, headway 5 out, led 2 out, headed flat, rallied to stay on to lead post
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, weakened from 3 out, blundered last
chased leader, led 5th, headed 9th, weakened 3 out, blundered last
in rear, ridden halfway, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching 10th
held up, headway 6 out, challenged on bit approaching last, led flat, idled in front and caught post
chased leaders, struggling from 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, lost place halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
Ferdy Murphy can land this event with SMART THINKER; the list of dangers is headed by Superrollercoaster and Herbie. This mare has had a break since her last run at Towcester when she chased home Man Of the Moment. She probably would have won had she not made a mistake, and if she can jump fluently today then she can regain the winning thread. She is also proven on the ground which is another big plus. Superrollercoaster has had his problems of late but if he could put it all together then he would be a leading player. However, he pulled-up last time and finished distressed on his previous start so he is one to treat with caution at present. Herbie disappointed over hurdles last time after a fall over fences on his previous outing. He ran his best race at this track but he has yet to prove that he sees out this trip so he could be vulnerable. Scotts Mill is the only course and distance winner in the field but he was well beaten by our selection back in December, and in a race where a number of these have questions to answer, we will stick with Smart Thinker to land the prize.
Superrollercoaster 16-1 (10-9) In rear, behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by National Petition (9-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Time To Reflect (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Held up and keen, hit 8th, weakened from 5 out, 4th of 6, 46l behind Brooklyn Breeze (11-11) at Ayr 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Herbie (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up behind, pushed along 6th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 12, 27l behind Zaffarella (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Instant Shot (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Hampered and fell at the 2nd in race won by Donald Will Do (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Feb, 14 ran.
Scott's Mill 12-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place from 7th, 11th of 17, well behind Capybara (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Smart Thinker 6-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 10th, mistake 4 out, led 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Man of The Moment (11-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Mistral De La Cour (FR) 10-1 (10-5) In touch, driven 5 out, 5th and outpaced when blundered next, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 38l behind Nelliedonethat (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan.
High Five 8-1 (9-7) Close up approaching 5th, ridden and lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Panama At Once (10-6) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Hollows Mist 9-1 (10-4) Always behind, pushed along after 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, well behind Toy Gun (11-11) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Dec.
The Maystone (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Held up, headway 6th, weakened 8th, 7th of 18, well behind Delightfully (11-11) at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Fight The Feeling 28-1 (9-11) In rear, jumped slowly 2nd, soon pushed along, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Cusp (11-2) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Anshabil (IRE) 28-1 (10-1) In touch, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 9th, 9th of 16, well behind Kinkeel (10-2) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs (5) sft in Jan.