chased leaders, blundered 1st, joined leaders 4th, ridden in 2nd approaching 4 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway 4 out, stayed on to lead towards finish
held up, led 2 out, kept on, headed towards finish
chased leaders, behind when blundered 7th, pulled up before next
tracked leader, not fluent 5 out, ridden approaching next, weakened 2 out
led to 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, led 8th, headed 2 out, weakened flat
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
in rear, ridden and weakened 4 out
Medicinal should be popular, Beggars Cap is improving but DEV may have the answers. Medicinal races from the same mark as when fourth behind I'msingingtheblues in a valuable course and distance handicap and could probably win this if running to a similar level of form. Veteran campaigners Coach Lane and Bambi De L'Orme haven't been at their best of late but have the ability if recapturing their old sparkle whilst Beggars Cap has been well placed to win three of his seven chase starts and may be able to cope with this step up in class. Mick Quinlan's charge is the one that interests us though as he stepped up on the form of his win at Sandown to chase home Stan at Aintree before disappointing at Punchestown. He's been dropped for each run this season and is back on an attractive mark as a result so we'd expect to see Dev show up well here before attempting to go one better at Aintree in April.
Medicinal (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Close up, ridden after 4 out, stayed on to go 2nd last, no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Oceanos des Obeaux (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 9th, 9th of 11, 50l behind Laskari (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Dec.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, weakened after 5 out, 8th of 11, 47l behind Laskari (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Dec.
King Daniel 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed and weakened last, 6th of 17, 14l behind Greenbelt (10-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Dev (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Led, headed 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 12, 17l behind Nacarat (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Ela Re 9-1 (10-7) Led in start, led to 2nd, dropped rear 5th, no chance from 7th, 4th of 5, 23l behind Tidal Fury (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs (2) hvy.
Coach Lane 12-1 (11-7) Made most, ridden after 3 out, driven and joined next, headed last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Pepsyrock (10-8) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Tom's Toybox 14-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened from 10th, 6th of 11, 29l behind Laskari (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Dec.
Beggars Cap (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, ridden 3 out, kept on to challenge last, led and driven out flat, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Nov beating Moor Spirit (10-7) by 2l, 7 ran.
