held up, fell 9th
in rear, outpaced 9th, never dangerous
in touch, outpaced 12th, tailed off from 2 out
held up, badly hampered and unseated rider 9th
held up, not fluent, never troubled leaders
led, headed approaching 8th, ridden next, tailed off from 3 out
tracked leaders, blundered 1st, effort 3 out, led last, ridden out
tracked leader, led 8th, ridden and headed last, lost 2nd near finish
held up, ridden 5 out, blundered 2 out, soon driven, one pace
in touch, fell 9th
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on from next, no impression on winner
Toy Gun has been pulled up in both starts since being successful over course and distance in December and Howard Johnson's gelding is hard to back with any confidence following those outings with a better bet looking to be CORNERBACK, who gets the vote with Garleton rated the best of the rest. The selection was good value for his win on soft ground at Kelso earlier this month, should not be inconvenienced by the return to a faster surface and the Nicky Richards-trained gelding still looks well treated off just a 6lb higher mark today. Heather Graham's Indy Mood ran better here last time and has slipped to a fair mark but he has not won for over three years and may be best left out of calculations. Its A Classic has shown decent form under testing conditions of late and he has won on good ground so the ground should not be a problem but he may be a shade high in the weights. Chris Thornton's Easby Mandarin looks to be on a fair mark but he has yet to win a race after 18 starts and of more interest may be Chernik. Micky Hammond's gelding looked to be going the right way over hurdles and he has disappointed in his two starts over fences so far but it may be too soon to write him off completely. Sue Smith's Garleton showed improved form when landing a novices' handicap chase at Catterick last time but a 7lb rise for that success makes this tougher and preference is for Cornerback.
Cornerback (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, hit 3rd, close up 3 out, hit next, headway and every chance last, driven to lead flat, won at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs (3) sft beating Super Baby (11-7) by 6l, 7 ran.
Airhill Lady (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 3rd until headed 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 18, 38l behind Description (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Toy Gun (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) With leaders, lost place 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Vicario (11-7) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 6 ran.
Easby Mandarin 5-6fav (11-0) With leader, led 3rd, hit 12th, headed and blundered 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Naval Attache (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) gd.
Chernik (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, not fluent 8th, pushed along, lost place next and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Silly Wupple (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Beau Saddler 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, blundered 9th, ridden and effort 3 out, challenged and every chance when fell at the last in race won by Saddler's Way (11-0) at Ayr 3m 1f beg chs (5) sft, 4 ran.
Garleton (IRE) 2-1fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, led 3 out, driven out, won at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd beating General Hardi (11-4) by a nk, 12 ran.
Chorizo (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Held up, weakened from 11th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Just Smudge (12-1) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Its A Classic 11-2 (10-8) Held up, headway from 8th, went 3rd 4 out, ridden approaching next, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Super Road Train (11-5) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy.
Supremely Gifted (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 12th, weakening when hit 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Cornerback (11-4) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs (3) sft, 7 ran.
Indy Mood 20-1 (10-7) Close up, chased winner before 3 out, ridden between last 2, soon no impression, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Hockenheim (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 5f beg chs (4) hvy.
