led, slow 1st, headed 3rd, mistake 8th, lost place before 12th, last 14th, not fluent next, pulled up before 16th
chased leaders, challenged 9th, pushed along before 15th, mistake and lost place next, well beaten 17th, pulled up before 5 out
held up on inside, headway 16th, pushed along before 5 out, went 3rd 2 out, disputing 2nd briefly flat, stayed on same pace
handy on inside, led after 4 out, mistake and headed next, 4th and beaten last
not that fluent in rear, mistake 11th, well beaten after 17th, pulled up before 5 out
chased leaders, went handy 4th, slow next, mistake and driven 4 out, 5 lengths 2nd last, hard ridden flat, closed inside final 75 yards, led last strides
held up on outside, headway going well from 14th, led 3 out, 5 lengths clear last, shaken up flat, ridden towards finish, caught last strides
in touch in mid-division, not fluent 1st, fell 8th
prominent, led 3rd, jumped right 4 out, soon headed, weakened before 2 out
in rear, effort from 17th, outpaced approaching 5 out, switched right 4 out, closed 3 out, no impression from 2 out
This looks quite competitive but Sandford Castle has his ground and should be in the mix again. Steel Native won over hurdles at Ffos Las three weeks ago but has failed to complete his last three over fences. Onurbike was second off this mark at Lingfield in November but we’ll take a chance on ROBIN OF SHERWOOD, who hinted at a revival here last time and has dropped a further 2lb since. The Manuscript also has decent claims having won at Market Rasen two weeks ago and Jurys Out is overdue a first victory over the larger obstacles, though gets little help from the handicapper.
Jurys Out (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Midfield, headway to track leaders 14th, narrowly led 4 out, pressed 3 out, headed before last where stumbled upon landing, kept on run-in but no match for winner, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Ede'iffs Elton (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
The Manuscript (IRE) 5-1fav (11-0) Prominent, led after 3rd, headed 6th, led before 11th, headed 14th, led 16th until next, no impression on winner 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Volcano (11-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Robin Of Sherwood (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway 10th, 4th 3 out, no impression on leaders, 4th of 12, 24l behind No Rematch (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Hepburn 18-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, pecked 9th, outpaced when hit 3 out, rallied well from last, went 3rd final strides, 3rd of 10, 6 3/4l behind Krujers Girl (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Steel Native (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Restrained towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway into midfield 7th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out (usual 3 out), led bypassing usual 2 out, narrow advantage last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Le Tueur (11-5) by 3 3/4l, 13 ran.
Newlands Cross (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, rallied on long run approaching last, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 18l behind Silent Man (11-0) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Sandford Castle (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, steady headway 11th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, headed before last, one pace and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Don Herbager (11-1) at Exeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Onurbike 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden 6 out, dropped to rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, briefly joined leader before 3 out, no extra after 2 out, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 15l behind Silent Man (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Dont Be Robin (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Sandford Castle (10-5) at Taunton 3m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Dorado Dollar (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Mid-division, blundered badly 5th, struggling before 12th, pulled up before 4 out, at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
