in touch, mistake 1st, jumped slowly 3rd and soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
led until headed 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 7th to track leaders, ridden to chase winner 3 out, always held
mid-division, staying on when mistake 2 out
tracked leader, led 5th, clear 4 out, pushed out
always behind
Jupon Vert deserves to get his head in front following a run of respectable efforts in defeat but he may again have to settle for a minor role and a better bet looks to be Bel Ombre, who gets the vote ahead of Amadeus and Easibrook Jane. The selection put some disappointing efforts behind him when running out the easy winner of a Bangor handicap last month and he has an obvious chance despite a 9lb rise since then. Fantasmic is held by the selection on Bangor running, while All Sonsilver is hard to back on recent evidence. Amadeus would have solid claims on the pick of his form but is not the most consistent of performers and of more interest may be Easibrook Jane, who has been pulled up in two recent starts over hurdles but is better than that and now returns to the larger obstacles on a fair mark. There was plenty to like about the way that Bel Ombre won at Bangor though and he is taken to follow up off his new mark.
Oa Baldixe (FR) (12-0) In touch to 2 out, weakened quickly pulled up in race won by Left To Himself (12-0) at Kildorrery 3m ire ptp gd in Feb '05, 7 ran.
Bel Ombre (FR) 8-1 (10-8) Held up, headway 6th, outpaced 9th, rallied 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, hung left after last, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar beating Nagano (11-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Jupon Vert (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Pulled hard, held up, headway after 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Sitting Duck (10-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
Easibrook Jane 40-1 (11-7) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Carew Lad (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar, 12 ran.
Amadeus (AUS) 4-1 (10-9) Tracked leader until weakened 7th, 4th of 7, 23l behind Bel Ombre (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Fantasmic 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led rd, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Bel Ombre (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
All Sonsilver (FR) 28-1 (10-4) Chased leaders when brought down 5 out in race won by Old Feathers (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 13 ran.