in touch, lost place 7th, soon tailed off, pulled up 14th
held up in touch, headway to go 3rd at 9th, took closer order next, dropped towards rear from 12th, quickly weakened after 4 out, virtually pulled up flat
led and jumped slow early, hit 12th, headed 4 out, regained lead approaching next, kept on from last, held on well
held up towards rear, lost place from 7th, soon tailed off, pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along approaching 5 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
CLASSIC CUT is taken to land this heat but he's closely matched with Blue Shark on official figures whilst neither Waterloo Road nor Greenbelt could be confidently dismissed. Greenbelt arrives fit from the Flat and ran promisingly enough at this track on his sole chase start when staying on well over two miles three but this is the first time that he's been asked to run significantly beyond two and a half miles and his stamina looks suspect. Waterloo Road hasn't been seen since disappointing as favourite in November 2008 and the market may be the best guide to his chances on his belated chase bow. Blue Shark suffered with injuries and failed to live up to his initial promise but he is capable of holding his own at this level and has leading claims. He got no further than the fourth last time in a race where Classic Cut unseated at the sixteenth having made several mistakes; James Ewart's runner was made favourite to win that contest and is given the chance to atone.
Battle Of Song (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) In rear and mistakes, blundered badly 7th, jumped slowly and weakened from next, 4th of 6, 47l behind Gansey (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f nov stks (3) gs in Feb.
Blue Shark (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, in 5th when blundered badly and unseated rider 14th, in a race won by Mr Preacher Man (11-0) at Kelso 3m 1f beg chase (4) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Classic Cut Evensfav (10-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent 10th, hit 11th, in 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 16th, in a race won by Mr Preacher Man (11-0) at Kelso 3m 1f beg chase (4) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Greenbelt 50-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway 4 out, one pace from next, 5th of 14, 8l behind Double Vodka (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Once Before (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway and in touch 6th, lost place next, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Milans Man (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Waterloo Road (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Close up until jumped slow 1st and 2nd, soon mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 16, 31l behind Smoke And Mirrors (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '08.
