towards rear, headway 7th, ridden 4 out, soon one pace
tracked leader, mistake 6th, ridden and every chance 4 out, beaten next
in touch, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 4 out, soon weakened
led, hit 7th, ridden when headed 4 out, weakened next
held up and keen, badly hampered on bend approaching 4 out, switched right and no impression
held up, mistake 6th, headway to join leaders 4 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, ridden and no extra flat
mid-division, ridden 6th, weakening on bend approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, ridden and some progress after 7th, soon outpaced, stayed on from 3 out, no chance with leading pair
in touch, led 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on all out
held up, brief effort after 7th, weakened 4 out
Nadover is suggested in an open heat but he will have to put a poor run behind him if he's to justify selection. Irish Legend and A Glass In Thyne are two others to consider closely. The selection has done most of his racing over fences and was competing from a mark of 139 when pulled up here last time; he lines up here on 113. He's had just five starts over hurdles and that may not be a fair reflection of his ability. The selection had won both previous visits here and handles heavy ground. A Glass In Thyne is another chaser bidding to take advantage of a lower mark over hurdles but it's difficult to gauge how much ability he has retained from his second to Carruthers at Bangor; the booking of Choc Thornton has to be viewed as a positive. Irish Legend wasn't beaten far behind Kicks For Free last time and enters calculations on that form, Deep Reflection and At The Money are not without each-way claims whilst Snow Patrol was in the process of running a big race here on his penultimate start. Nick's Choice has been in fine form but may find this a shade competitive as may This Way and Pistol Desbois has something to prove at present. Competitive fare but Nadover has an obvious chance.
Irish Legend (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, raced keenly, effort approaching 2nd last, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 8l behind Kicks For Free (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
A Glass In Thyne (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until next, went 2nd again flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 25l behind Carruthers (11-8) at Bangor 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Deep Reflection 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 28l behind Mossville (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
At The Money 20-1 (11-3) With leader until after 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 4th of 13, 17l behind I'm So Lucky (11-6) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Snow Patrol 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, soon weakened, last of 10, well behind El Zorro (10-11) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Nadover (FR) 10-3fav (11-6) Held up, ridden 9th, soon dropped rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Bring Me Sunshine (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Alberti (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 17th of 22, 26l behind Valain (10-12) at Naas 2m cnd hcp hdl gf in Oct.
This Way (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Prominent, ridden 7th, one pace, 4th of 12, 11l behind Pacha D'Oudairies (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Mikado Melody (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 18, 30l behind Pagano (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb.
Nick's Choice 7-2jt-fav (11-7) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, led 3 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft beating That's For Sure (10-7) by 11l, 16 ran.
Pistol Desbois (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Towards rear, some late progress, never a danger, 9th of 17, 18l behind Exmoor Ranger (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Don't Ask Me (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) In touch, behind when mistake tenth and pulled up 3 out in race won by Geography (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft, 9 ran.