in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to chase winner 2out, one paced run in
led to 8th, weakened after 3 out
tracked leader, every chance 3 out to next, faded last
tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden 2 out, drew clear from last
behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up next
MINELLA DADDY stepped up to three miles at Fakenham in January and stayed on strongly for a comfortable victory for which he's penalised. A repeat effort should be good enough for this. Winning point-to-pointer Banny's Lad has been racing over trips too short and should be seen to better effect here, a remark that also applies to Royal Milan who had looked a decent prospect when a close third at Doncaster in December but didn't run as well on a return visit a month later. High Hopper had also gone reasonably well on Town Moor before running poorly on very heavy ground at Haydock and can do better.
Banny's Lad 40-1 (11-2) Held up, left closer 7th, 3rd after 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 12, 8 3/4l behind Wade Harper (11-8) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Cross To Boston (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent and rider lost iron briefly 4th, headway after 9th, went 3rd before 3 out, no impression, mistake and weakened next, 3rd of 8, 36l behind Urban Gale (11-3) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
High Hopper (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 4th, outpaced 3 out, 4th of 9, dist behind Bun Doran (11-5) at Haydock 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Royal Milan (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 21, 21l behind Big Chief Benny (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Jan.
Wee Holio (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, tailed off before 5 out, pulled up, at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) hvy in Feb.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear approaching last, won at Fakenham 2m 7f (4) sft in Jan beating Girly Girl (10-11) by 6l, 8 ran.
