held up towards rear, headway to track leaders in 3rd after 4th, went 2nd at 5th, led 7th, clear from 3 out, easily
held up in touch in 4th, blundered 7th, went 3rd at last, kept on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
led, pushed along before 5th on stable bend, headed 7th, in 5th and weakening when brought down last
held up in rear, some headway on outer from 8th, pushed along 4 out, headway from 2 out, went 2nd at last, no chance with winner, lost 2nd place near finish
tracked leader, chased winner before 3 out, ridden in 3rd and weakening when fell last
tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place after 4th, soon detached, pulled up before 4 out
Alpha One finished second twice over 2m3f here before the turn of the year but suffered a heavy fall at Musselburgh in January and that had clearly affected his confidence at Newcastle last time. He may be best watched for now so we'll concentrate on chasing newcomers FRANKS A MILLION and Noble Scholar with preference for the former, who won a bumper at Musselburgh in November and has caught the eye in a couple of runs over hurdles since. Alan Swinbank's gelding was third over hurdles here in January but ran a shocker at Carlisle subsequently. The remainder have little to recommend them.
Alpha One (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 11th, weakened 4 out, last of 6, well behind Dancing Art (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Earl Grez (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Chased leader, jumped right 1st, reminders after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 10, 34l behind Lucky Landing (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Foot The Bill 150-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place when mistake 3rd, behind from 8th, tailed off, 8th of 12, 46l behind Railway Dillon (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Feb.
Franks A Million (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Koup De Kanon (11-12) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Noble Scholar (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, reminders before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 12, well behind Big Occasion (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Penton Hook 12-1 (9-9) Chased leader to 6th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Original Prankster (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
