held up in touch, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat
soon lost place and behind, pushed along halfway, lost touch 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
held up in touch, lost touch 11th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leader, challenging when hit and stumbled 4 out, soon outpaced, 10 lengths 3rd and beaten and blundered next
led, hit 13th, headed 2 out, ridden and kept on flat
The concession of 13lbs to Truckers Lady could prove beyond Minster Shadow so the vote goes to Keith Reveley's mare with Byways Boy best of the rest. Minster Shadow stays all day so this test should be right up his street and he can be expected to win again over fences when conditions are in his favour. However, Truckers Lady has no shortage of stamina either and she has arguably been done for a turn of foot on her last two runs over 2 miles 7 at Kelso despite the heavy ground. Her latest second to a fair sort in Brave Rebellion would suggest that there's little to choose between her and Minster Shadow on the book so she has a clear chance at the weights. Byways Boy showed some promise at Leicester last time but that was a weak race and the form may not amount to much; this looks like a match on paper and we'll take Truckers Lady to win.
Minster Shadow 11-2 (11-0) In touch, reminders after 8th, led 4 out, stayed on well approaching last, won at Newcastle 3m beg chs (4) sft in Jan beating Allistathebarrista (11-0) by 7l, 8 ran.
Noquina (FR) 125-1 (10-9) Behind, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by The Gleaner (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
The Chisholm (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Mistake 2nd, struggling 7th, tailed off and pulled up at the 11th in race won by O'maley (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
Byways Boy 50-1 (10-6) Close up, led 8th until 12th, ridden and every chance 3 out, one pace approaching last, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Sovereign's Joy (10-9) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gs in Jan.
Truckers Lady (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, headway and every chance 4 out until ridden approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Brave Rebellion (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
