held up behind, headway 3 out, kept on from next, never nearer
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
always behind
in touch, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, no impression
chased leaders, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, outpaced when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
always prominent, edged right and led before 2 out, clear when not fluent last, ridden and held on flat
always behind, lost touch 4th, tailed off when pulled up before next
mid-division, ridden and lost place 5th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
with leader, lost place after 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden and kept on flat, not reached winner
mid-division, headway 3 out, kept on same pace from next
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, one pace approaching last
chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, effort 3 out, ridden and kept on from next
always behind
Croon showed improved form when landing a Ludlow handicap when last seen in December but Caroline Bailey's gelding has harshly been raised 8lbs since then and he looks too high in the weights so preference is for Gaelic Present, who gets the vote ahead of Jazrawy. The last mentioned has been well held in his last two starts, latterly on the flat, but is less exposed over hurdles than most of these so has to be respected. Mick Easterby's Nortonthorpe Lad has been running well of late but has been punished by the handicapper as a result, while Gloucester is another that is unexposed over timber but represents a yard that has been struggling to have winners of late. Desert Nova is lightly raced and makes more appeal than Shampers but it is Gaelic Present that gets the vote. The selection has only had three starts under rules in his career but has shown some promise, including in point-to-points and Alan McCabe's gelding looks well treated off a mark of 100 for his debut in a handicap.
Just A Thought (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Prominent to 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, well behind Crofters Lad (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Jan.
Jazrawy 12-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, chased leader approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge next, weakened before last, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Honour's Dream (11-2) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Scutch Mill (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 3 out, effort after 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 14, 14l behind Augustine (11-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Gloucester 9-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, effort 3 out, beaten when not fluent 2 out, 9th of 16, 34l behind Rippling Ring (11-3) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Ticket To Freedom (NZ) 17-2 (11-3) In touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 16, well behind Realism (11-3) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Croon 10-1 (10-12) In touch, led 2 out, ridden last, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Red Sun (11-4) by 2l, 10 ran.
Desert Nova (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) In touch, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 15, 28l behind Mighty Fine (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jul.
Little Bob 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, well behind Augustine (11-1) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Gaelic Present (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Jumped left throughout, led, ridden after 8th, headed after 3 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 3, 23l behind Swift Half (11-0) at Taunton 3m nh mdn hdl (4) frm in Nov.
Shampers 100-1 (11-0) In touch, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Gansey (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Feb, 9 ran.
You Me And Theboys 66-1 (11-10) Always in rear, hampered 3 out, 13th of 16, well behind Gallant Hero (11-10) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Fistral 40-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, ridden, outpaced 4 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 20l behind Lazy Darren (10-7) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Green Day Packer (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 13, 42l behind Yellow Flag (10-11) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led after 4 out, ridden 3 out, mistake last, headed flat, no extra, 3rd of 19, 4 1/2l behind Dalawan (11-5) at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Bedizen 50-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, pulled hard, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 16, 38l behind One Gulp (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Present 16-1 (10-9) Always behind, never on terms, 7th of 12, 14l behind Brook No Argument (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Goldan Jess (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 4th and pulled up at the last in race won by Florentino (10-5) at Kelso 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Hiawatha (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Mid-division, progress 6th, stumbled next and soon held, 8th of 13, 25l behind Linden Boy (10-3) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
