with leaders, lost place after 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
chased leaders, struggling and behind from 8th, pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, pushed along 3rd, chased winner from 4 out, one pace
held up behind, headway halfway, weakened from 3 out
in rear, some headway 8th, weakened 9th, pulled up before 4 out
with leaders until weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
made all, ridden 4 out, kept on well from last, driven out
prominent until weakened 4 out
In a a tricky event, the three making it onto the shortlist are Matmata de Tendron, Briar's Mist and Dickie Lewis, with the vote going to Matmata de Tendron. Briar's Mist stays well and is now five pounds above his Newcastle winning mark. Running Moss is very lightly raced and has raced only once in since February 2004, although that produced a Hunter Chase win. Matmata de Tendron is another that stays well and eventually managed to get his head in front at Sedgefield last time so comes here in good heart. Lazy But Lively has been dropped very quickly in the weights by the handicapper which could prove to be generous to the sole course winner in the line-up. Dickie Lewis has been running well of late and his mark looks fair, while Gimme Shelter is on a fair mark based on his spring efforts, even though he is seven pounds above a winning rating. Recent Edition is now rated 76 but won off a mark of 84 over three miles and six furlongs in January 2005 on soft, so could be given a chance based on that, while much as Lambrini Bianco has won a soft-ground Bangor bumper, his best recent efforts have come on good. Adding it all up, we have a tricky contest on our hands, with the selection being Matmata de Tendron.
Briar's Mist (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) In touch, weakened approaching 11th pulled up at the 12th in race won by Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Running Moss 5-1 (11-10) Made virtually all, stayed on strongly flat, won at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (H) sft in Apr beating Starbuck (11-5) by 8l, 6 ran.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 7-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, driven, headway 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb beating Canavan (11-1) by 3l, 12 ran.
Lazy But Lively (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Always behind, 7th of 12, well behind Matmata de Tendron (9-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Dickie Lewis 5-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, close up 6th, driven to lead 2 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Twotiming Gent (10-3) at Wetherby 2m 7f amt hcp hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Gimme Shelter (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leader to halfway, soon struggling, behind when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Matmata de Tendron (9-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Recent Edition (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Behind, driven 12th, kept on under pressure from 3 out, never near leaders, 3rd of 12, 18l behind Matmata de Tendron (9-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Lambrini Bianco (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden to chase winner 4 out, no impression, 2nd of 13, 22l behind Boardroom Dancer (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m amt hcp chs (5) gd in Feb.
