in touch in rear until outpaced 5th, stayed on to take poor 3rd 2 out
tracked leader, led 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, driven and kept on under pressure run-in
not fluent, led, mistake 5th, ridden and headed 7th, chased winner until 4 out, soon weakened
tracking leaders in 4th when fell 2nd
chased leaders, reminders and outpaced 5th, driven to chase leading pair from 8th, chased winner 4 out, switched to inside approaching 2 out, no real impression run-in
Lindsay is the pick over Bonus Bridge and Saintsaire, with Bleu Superbe also worth a mention. Lindsay is going the right way over fences, having won three times in all, having gone up over a stone in the ratings in the process, and seems to be settling down now as well. He was quite highly strung at the beginning, but now that the penny has dropped, Henry Daly's charge can continue to be followed while the ground is decent. Stablemate Bonus Bridge is much more exposed but is a past course-and-distance winner and shaped well last time so gives the yard another string to its bow. Saintsaire was quite well thought of as a hurdler but never really hit the heights. He has the scope to make it over fences though and should not be ruled out if he has recovered from his exertions here in the Racing Post Plate behind stablemate Non So. He made a lot of the running that day but was winded when falling, while Bleu Superb has had his confidence knocked of late by failing to get round twice. All in all, Lindsay has the most scope and is the one to beat.
Palua 66-1 (10-5) Held up, hampered 6th, weakened from 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Jacks Craic (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd, 16 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Prominent, when fell 6th unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Jacks Craic (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd, 16 ran.
Saintsaire (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, beaten when fell at the last in race won by Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar, 24 ran.
Bonus Bridge (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, outpaced 8th, mistake 9th, blundered 4 out, kept on from 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-3) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Escompteur (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 9th to 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 16, 23l behind Rubberdubber (11-8) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Auditor 7-1 (10-6) In touch, pushed along 8th, blundered and rider lost whip 10th, weakened 3 out, behind when jumped badly right 2 out and last, 5th of 8, 21l behind Tipp Top (11-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Lindsay (FR) 15-8 (11-11) Chased leader, led approaching 4 out, ridden approaching last, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Feb beating Harry Potter (11-8) by 2l, 5 ran.
New Bird (GER) 66-1 (11-5) Behind when fell at the 8th in race won by Rubberdubber (11-8) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
