led until approaching 3rd, chased leader, led again 6th, headed before 4 out, weakened soon after next
chased leaders, led approaching 4 out, kept on well until headed and found no extra final 120 yards
behind, mistake 3rd, hampered 5th, stayed on from 4 out, never going pace to challenge
mid-division, lost place and struggling 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up in rear, steady headway from 17th, went 2nd 3 out, edged left and distracted by loose horse before last, stayed on to lead final 120 yards
chased leading pair, went 2nd and every chance 4 out, no extra from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, stayed on but never going pace to challenge
mid-division, until lost place and behind from 9th, tailed off
chased leaders, pecked 12th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off
chased leader, led before 3rd, blundered and weakened 12th
behind until blundered and unseated rider 5th
held up in rear, steady headway 13th, chased leaders from 4 out, went 3rd and hit last, no chance with front pair
Plum Pudding is in the form of his life, but he has now gone up 18lbs for back-to-back Leicester wins and today we will take him on with TEEMING RAIN, who is beginning to look well handicapped again. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained selection won this race last year, so course and distance form is a positive, as is the cut in the ground. Admittedly, he has not had the best of times in the intervening months, but he did show up well at Bangor over another marathon trip last month and he is now 2lbs below last year's winning mark, so he makes most appeal. It was a bit early in the piece to say that Newbay Bob would not have won at Plumpton last time, before he unshipped his pilot, but the impression he gave was that he would have been held and he may have enjoyed his peak for the season. By George is likely to interest plenty of each-way players given his profile of making the frame more often than not, though he has to prove he will get home over a much longer trip than he has previously encountered. Over The Creek is very well treated on his best form, despite topweight, and with first-time blinkers market support would be very interesting. Present M'Lord goes well here but will have to improve to win from this mark, while Simon Burrough does well with those he runs over these extreme trips and Lavenoak Lad should be no back number even accounting for his 8lb rise for winning last time. A fascinating contest where Teeming Rain is just preferred to repeat last year's success.
Over The Creek 22-1 (11-11) Held up, headway to go prominent 6th, pushed along 9th, soon lost place, in rear when blundered 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Nicto De Beauchene (10-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Present M'lord (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, reminders after 6th, ridden and struggling 12th, plugged on one pace from 4 out, 5th of 10, 27l behind Ballyfoy (11-12) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
By George (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Held up, pushed along after 4 out, chased leader next, soon one pace, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Temoin (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Plum Pudding (FR) 2-1fav (10-8) Chased leaders on inside, went prominent 9th, led 14th, ridden and edged left approaching last, edged left flat, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb beating Cousin Nicky (11-1) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Petite Margot 16-1 (11-4) Jumped slowly 1st, soon in rear, mistake 8th, hampered next, behind from 16th, tailed off, 4th of 7, 37l behind Lavenoak Lad (9-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Teeming Rain (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up on outside, jumped left 8th, reminder after next and again after 12th, headway 14th, outpaced 4 out, hung left and stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd after last, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Ya I Know (10-2) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Led until after 2nd, hampered next, chased winner 7th until after 12th, weakened after 14th, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Buffalo Bob (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Newbay Bob 2-1fav (11-3) Tended to jump right, led until blundered and headed 11th, stayed well there until dropped to rear and hit 14th, rallied under pressure in 4th when hampered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Portrait Royale (9-9) at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo Am hcp 0-115 (4) hvy, 5 ran.
Crank Hill 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, lost place next, tailed off 11th, 5th of 7, well behind Its A Classic (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Lavenoak Lad 11-4fav (9-7) In touch, led 16th, ridden approaching 2 out, 4 lenghts ahead last, held on gamely, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Notabotheronme (10-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Macmar (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Prominent early, tailed off and struggling in rear 9th, went distant 4th before 4 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Newbay Bob (10-9) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Ibberton 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, left 3rd at 11th, no chance with leading pair from next, lost distant 3rd before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Newbay Bob (10-9) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Helm (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, not fluent 11th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on but never able to challenge, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Enroblim Trop (11-3) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
