held up, headway 6th, disputing 2nd when mistake 5 out, ridden 2 out, one pace flat, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, led 4th, driven clear approaching last, ridden out flat comfortably
not fluent, held up, struggling 6th, left 4th 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to go third flat, no impression
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, outpaced 6th, left remote 3rd 4 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, 4 lengths 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
led, headed 4th, chased leaders until ridden and weakened 5 out, tailed off
L'Oiseau can defy topweight at the expense of Vulcan Lane, Hollows Mill and Northern Flash. Just the six runners go to post for the penultimate event on the card, and we shall rely on L'Oiseau to make up for his recent lapse at Catterick where he held every chance when falling three out. Prior to that, Len Lungo's charge had battled well to make a successful chase debut at Muselburgh, and this formerly disappointing sort over hurdles can make up for lost time. He was unlucky over timber here last April when Bruce Gibson dropped his whip on the run-in, and his pilot will be keen to make up for that. Hollows Mill was all out to hold Vulcan Lane when they met here last month, but is slightly better off at the weights and should make a bold bid to repeat the feat on this better ground. Northern Flash finally got off the mark at the 61st attempt when scoring at Perth last August and has not been out since finishing third at Cartmel later that month. He is hard to fancy, and we prefer the claims of L'Oiseau.
L'Oiseau (FR) 7-2 Prominent, every chance but ridden when fell 3 out in race won by Moment of Madness at Catterick 2m nov chs (E) gs in Feb, 9 ran.
Hollows Mill 20-1 Tracked leaders, led and left clear 8th, 15 lengths clear last, all out, won at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Feb beating Vulcan Lane by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Vulcan Lane (NZ) 9-4 In rear, hampered 2nd, jumped slowly next, pushed along approaching 7th, never dangerous, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Polar Gunner at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Feb.
Gofagold 13-2 In touch, headway to chase leaders 4th, ridden to lead 3 out, not fluent, soon headed, mistake last, one pace, 5th of 9, 6l behind Jolika at Ayr 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) hvy in Feb.
Northern Flash 2-1 Chased leaders, chased winner from 4th, reminders approaching 11th, weakening when lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Apadi at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Aug.
Jamorin Dancer 66-1 Tracked leaders, weakened from 5 out, blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Celtic Legend at Musselburgh 2m 4f amt hcp chs 0-95 (F) gf in Dec, 9 ran.
