held up in 4th, hit 10th, shaken up to close 4 out, went 3rd 3 out until next, weakened last
led, ridden along approaching 8th, headed 5 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
tracked leader, led 5 out, headed next, soon driven, led again 2 out, clear flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5 out, led next, ridden and headed 2 out, pecked last, no extra, lost 2nd flat
held up, hit 5th, lost touch 10th, pulled up before next
Nonrunner
With veteran Round The Horn making his chase debut after a length lay-off, this should chiefly concern MINELLA STARS and My Boy Paddy. The latter was pulled up on his chasing debut at Newbury when the former finished third but did a lot better in a handicap at Carlisle last month and should continue on an upward curve. But this can go to the Nicholls' entry, who followed up that Newbury place with a close-up second behind Gurtacrue at Wincanton and won a heavy-ground maiden hurdle at Hereford earlier in his career. Lord Tomnoddy has been out of action for more than two years and will more than likely need this.
Lord Tomnoddy 7-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, led on bit 2 out, nudged clear flat, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar '10 beating Qroktou (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Minella Stars (IRE) 9-4fav (10-8) Pressed leader, led 2nd, headed after 17th, driven to lead again 4 out, headed before next, kept challenging, stayed on, held near finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind Gurtacrue (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
My Boy Paddy (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway before 14th, every chance last, soon chased winner, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Beamazed (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Round The Horn (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) In rear, not always fluent, headway 3 out, chased winner soon after, challenged 2 out, soon hung right, held flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Devon Native (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar '11.
Strawberry Villa 66-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair until hit 7th, mistake 9th, hit next, ridden and plugging on but no chance when when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by How's Business (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gs in Feb, 4 ran.
Rockandahardplace (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 5th until after 7th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Owen Glendower (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
