in touch, lost place 5th, soon behind, tailed off from 7th, pulled up before next
soon led, pushed along and headed 13th, rallied approaching 3 out, stayed on after last
mid-division, under pressure 10th, soon no impression
behind, headway halfway, chased leaders 13th, led 4 out, stayed on well under pressure
mid-division, headway 10th, led 13th, headed 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, under pressure 12th, lost place before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 14th, held when blundered badly 2 out
mid-division, reminders 3rd, soon chasing leaders, lost place before 9th, pulled up before 12th
always behind, tailed off when pulled up 14th
mid-division, not jumped well, lost place 10th, tailed off when pulled up 14th
prominent, under pressure 15th, stayed on from 2 out, chased winner after last, kept on well
in touch, mistake 15th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 12th, chased leaders 14th, kept on under pressure from 2 out
always behind, pulled up 2 out
mid-division, under pressure 8th, soon tailed off
held up in rear, never on terms
chased leaders, smooth headway 10th, lost place before 14th
This should prove to be another very competitive handicap chase with no fewer than eight distance winners running, but the best of the bunch looks to be EXTRA BOLD who will be closest challenged by Change Agent and Huckleberry. The selection was the beaten favourite last time out after falling at the 11th fence. He had been in good form though and should be best here if he can avoid mistakes. Change Agent placed second here last time and was up with the pace throughout he looked sure to win but was just worn down. If the gelding can repeat that performance though, he will be a cause for concern to the selection. Huckleberry stays well, but has been off the boil of late, so is one to be wary of. If the gelding can recapture the form he was in late last year then he can be a serious challenger for victory but that remains to be seen so for our selection we return to Extra Bold.
Huckleberry (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Led until jumped left 2nd, lost place approaching 7th, 4th of 11, 20l behind Never So Blue (11-3) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Laudamus 4-1 (11-8) Mid-division, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Rebel Melody (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) In touch, soon pushed along, driven after 2 out, soon outpaced by leaders, 5th of 15, 15l behind Quattrocento (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Extra Bold 9-2fav (11-3) Prominent, raced keenly, close 3rd when fell at the 11th in race won by Ballyvaden (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb, 16 ran.
Top Dawn (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Notabotheronme (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Tomillielou 8-1 (11-9) Rear, driven after 10th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Push The Port (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs, 14 ran.
Sir Winston (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 9th, weakened 10th, 4th of 8, well behind Quickbeam (10-11) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Saddler George (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) In rear, reminders 7th, behind from 10th, 9th of 14, well behind Donald Will Do (10-13) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.
Serengeti Sunset (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) In touch, led 8th, headed briefly 10th, ridden and weakening when unseated rider at the last in race won by Alderbrook Girl (9-13) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
Orion Star (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Raced wide, mid-division, ridden 9th, rear from next, 9th of 14, well behind Man of The Moment (11-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Zimbabwe (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Led, ridden and blundered 3 out, driven soon after, headed approaching 2 out, no extra before last, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Push The Port (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Change Agent 9-1 (10-0) Prominent, led 12th until 14th, led 17th, drew clear after 4 out, joined by winner when hit last, kept on, no extra when headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Freeline Fury (11-4) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
Merry Storm (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) A.p; led aft 10 til mist last; r.o, 2nd of 11, hd behind Sparklinspirit (12-0) at Howick 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Carnt Spell 33-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 13l behind Ballyvaden (11-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
The Artful Fox 25-1 (10-0) Made most to 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Garleton (10-8) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd.
Major Belle (FR) 66-1 (9-11) Held up, behind from 12th, 4th of 6, 33l behind Cool Roxy (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
All Sonsilver (FR) 66-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, headway 11th, ridden 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 16, 39l behind Ballyvaden (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
