tracked winner, reminders and not fluent 8th, struggling when hit 10th
held up, headway 8th, chased winner after 3 out, no impression
made all, clear from 2 out, pushed out
held up in rear, headway 9th, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 10th, ran on from last to take 3rd close home
prominent, outpaced 9th and reminders, tailed off from 11th, pulled up before 2 out
held up, unseated rider 1st
tracked leaders. challenged 11th, every chance 4 out, weakened approaching next, eased when lost 3rd close home
held up mid-division, hit 9th, weakened from 12th
See You There gets the vote ahead of Nocatee and Pass Me By. Much as he has been raised three pounds for falling over course and distance last time, See You There held every chance at the time and, given that he possibly holds Pass Me By on that run, has to be granted every respect today. Pass Me By, though, is a course winner who is entitled to some thought. Kitski was unlucky to fall when still in contention at Market Rasen two run ago and, a stayer over hurdles, he cannot be ruled out of a good show. Dead Mans Dante is just two pounds above his winning Sedgefield mark from November but he has yet to prove that he stays this far. Nocatee showed a liking for this trip at Newcastle two runs ago and, given that he is only five, he should have further improvement in him. Emm's Royalty is reasonably weighted based on his best hurdling efforts, but his chasing runs have yet to match them. It is hard to fully assess Theatre Knight's Sedgefield chasing win, although most of the subsequent form has not franked it. It is interesting to see Cha Cha Dancer debuting over fences in a handicap but, much as Ginger McCain has his stable in good form, the chance of Bannister Lane is not an obvious one on recent form. All of which returns us to the selection, which is See You There.
See You There (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 10th, went 2nd 3 out, 1 length down and ridden when fell in race won by Kinburn (11-12) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Kitski (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Towards rear, mistakes, headway 11th, effort after 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 30l behind Kinburn (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f beg chs (E) sft in Dec.
Pass Me By 9-1 (10-12) Chased winner to 11th, ridden 2 out, 3 lengths down when left 2nd last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Kinburn (11-12) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Jan.
Dead Mans Dante (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway 15th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, well behind Interdit (11-12) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Theatre Knight (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, headway 9th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 3rd of 8, 20l behind Brandy Wine (11-0) at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Cha Cha Cha Dancer 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 10th, blundered badly next, soon beaten, 10th of 16, 25l behind Not Today Sir (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Bannister Lane 33-1 (11-6) With winner, blundered 11th, ridden and lost place 3 out, weakened from next, tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Olney Lad (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 7f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Nocatee (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, 9th of 10, well behind Galero (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
