held up, headway approaching 4th, 3 lengths down in 4th and going well when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear approaching last
led to 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leader, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, led 5th, mistake next, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened from last
chased leader, weakened approaching 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
always behind, tailed off from 5th
Hollows Mill gets the call here ahead of Longdale and Mikasa. The sole course and distance winner in the line-up, Hollows Mill won this race last year from the same mark that he races from today. As such, his chance is there for all to see. Longdale should still be on a competitive mark and first-time cheekpieces could help things along further today. Flaming Heck came good over fences last time but has a six-pounds rise to defy now if scoring, while Ambition Royale is reasonably weighted based on hurdling form but is trying fences for the first time today. The Miner has proven that he can go well from around today's mark, but a record of one win from 27 races has also to be factored in, while, much as you have to go back more than two years to see a win in Glenfarclas Boy's record, he has shown in more recent times that he can go well from his current mark. Finally, Mikasa is just three pounds above a winning mark and has shown that he can go well under these conditions; however, for the selection, we will stick with Hollows Mill.
Longdale 6-1 (11-8) pulled up 3 out in race won by Cedar Rapids (10-11) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jan, 10 ran.
Hollows Mill 6-1 (11-6) Held up, headway after 5 out, every chance 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 10, 20l behind Alfy Rich (11-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Flaming Heck 10-1 (11-12) Made all, ridden after 3 out, kept on well from last, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan beating Vulcan Lane (11-4) by 5l, 10 ran.
Ambition Royal (FR) 66-1 (10-9) Tracked leader to 8th, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 14, well behind According To John (11-4) at Ayr 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
The Miner 7-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, chased leader approaching 4 out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Alfy Rich (11-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Glenfarclas Boy (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Held up, ridden and headway after 4 out, no impression from 3 out, 6th of 14, 23l behind Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Mikasa (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Mr Prickle (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
