with leader, hit 6th, soon given reminders, weakening when hit 8th
prominent and keen, mistake and unseated rider 7th
held up, ridden and headway after 4 out, kept on from 2 out, took 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
prominent until weakened from 5 out
mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out
behind, fell 3rd
chased leaders, led approaching 8th, clear from 3 out
towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, no impression from 3 out
behind, blundered 2nd and rider lost iron, headway approaching 5 out, blundered 4 out, soon weakened
led, headed approaching 8th and hit 8th, ridden approaching 5 out, kept on, no impression from next
held up, jumped slowly 7th, weakened approaching 4 out
Lanmire Tower can get the better of Superior Weapon, with Idealko and Hombre worth a mention. On the basis of his most recent efforts, Lanmire Tower should be the one to beat. Steve Gollings' charge has not won since dead-heating at Wincanton off a mark of 119 for Alan King in a much better race than this in 2002, and was mostly confined to hurdles last year. He lined up back over fences on a rating of just 76 at Market Rasen last month and ran a blinder to chase home Courage Under Fire, so although he is now an 11-year-old, is very well treated on his best form. There is always the chance that he will not reproduce that latest effort, but if he does then then he must surely take all the beating. Superior Weapon beat subsequent winner Lauderdale at Kelso in November, but was receiving a stone and has been off since December. Idealko ran a fair sort of race in first-time blinkers at Ludlow last time but remains hard to win with, and Hombre has a long absence to overcome. All in all, Lanmire Tower has the best credentials and is selected.
Idealko (FR) 12-1 Jumped left, in touch, hit 12th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 12l behind Roschal at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Feb.
Murphy's Nails (IRE) 50-1 Always behind, tailed off from 8th, 8th of 16, well behind Victom's Chance at Folkestone 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gs in Feb.
Vanishing Dancer (SWI) 12-1 Always towards rear, 6th of 7, 30l behind Ghadames at Leicester 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Feb.
Hombre 7-2 Chased leader, joined leader 4th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 25l behind Sound Of Cheers at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy.
Superior Weapon (IRE) 9-2 With leader, led 4 out, headed next, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 7, 28l behind Brave Thought at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Dec.
Proper Poser (IRE) 100-1 Held up, lost touch 7th, mistake 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Meggie's Beau at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (E) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Lanmire Tower (IRE) 5-1 Held up, went 2nd 8th, ridden after 4 out, kept on from next, took 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Courage Under Fire at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Feb.
Take The Oath (IRE) 33-1 Held up, in rear when unseated rider 3 out in race won by Woodenbridge Dream at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
Tirley Storm 12-1 In touch, headway 9th, hampered and lost place 10th, rallied 3 out, beaten when mistake last, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 17l behind Jupon Vert at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Nov.
Khaladjistan (IRE) 20-1 Mid-division, headway 9th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 15l behind Schuh Shine at Southwell 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Jan.
City Gent 16-1 4th of 6, 17l behind Minella Silver at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd in May.
Countrywide Star (IRE) 25-1 Held up, headway to chase winner 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 15, 20l behind Jayed at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (G) gd in Feb.
Angel Delight 11-1 Prominent, mistake 1st, ridden after 13th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Pewter Light at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Schoolhouse Walk 33-1 Chased leaders, behind when weakening approaching 4 out and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Courage Under Fire at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
