tracked leaders, lost place 4th, reminders 5th, mistake 12th, unseated rider 14th
mid-division and mistake 1st, headway 10th, weakened 13th
held up and always going well, led 12th unchallenged, easily
in touch, ridden from 13th, took poor 2nd last
held up, headway to chase leaders 14th, soon one pace
towards rear, effort 10th, ridden 12th, weakened next
tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 12th, weakened quickly, pulled up before 14th
led, headed 9th, ridden 4 out, weakened next
always in rear
tracked leaders, weakened after 10th, behind when pulled up before 14th
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, blundered badly and rider did well to stay on 5 out, kept on and lost 2nd last
held up, headway 11th, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out
Nonrunner
The market may help guide to the French import Peter Pole, however a safer bet may be ROYAL HILARITY who is selected ahead of Baron De Doc. Peter Bowen's runner is not amazingly well-handicapped but he is effective over three miles on good ground. His latest run at Catterick can be excused on account of underfoot conditions and now stepped back up in trip we are likely to see a changed horse. Weather Permitting was pulled up on his recent chasing debut; this unexposed gelding had some good hurdles form back in early 2008 and it is unlikely that we have seen the best of this son of Glacial Storm. A visor is tried on Maree Hall, whilst Justabout is fitted with the blinkers for the first time. Baron De Doc is winless in eight starts on the racecourse proper (also pulled up in 4 of 5 point-to-point starts) but his third last time at Huntingdon was one of his best efforts to date. It will take someone braver than me to take a chance on the appropriately-named Bold Punt, so of more interest may be Peter Pole. He is stepped up in trip for this UK debut and is a real unknown. The fact that he is pitched straight into handicap company would suggest that his trainer Tim Vaughan doesn't believe that his gelding is over-faced with a mark of 108. Also on that handicap mark sits Lancaster Sound but despite the odd good run, his profile contains far too many disappointments to get involved. At a price the old-timer Laudamus, a course winner over hurdles, is not to be overlooked despite disappointing last time, but it is Royal Hilarity who can have the last laugh.
Lancaster Sound (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden after 10th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Quickbeam (10-11) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Bertie May 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders until 10th, soon lost touch and pulled up 5 out in race won by Theatre Dance (11-0) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) gs, 4 ran.
Peter Pole (FR) Garuda gelding out of La Banize.
Baren De Doc (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) In touch, chased leader briefly before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Potts of Magic (10-11) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Royal Hilarity (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) With leader, led 4th to 6th, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, 22l behind De Boitron (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Weather Permitting (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) In touch, not fluent 10th, weakened after 14th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Adare Prince (11-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Maree Hall (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Chased leader to 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, last of 9, well behind Patsy Finnegan (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Bold Punt (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Always in rear, mistake 7th, lost touch 9th and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Supreme Keano (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 18 ran.
Atherstone Hill (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) In touch until weakened 6th, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Supreme Keano (10-11) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Justabout 9-1 (11-7) Chased leader until 8th, stayed handy, ridden and struggling soon after 3 out, beaten when jumped left last, 4th of 10, 22l behind Royal Hilarity (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan.
Killing Me Softly 40-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until lost touch from 12th, 3rd of 4, well behind Itsa Legend (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Indian Chase 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden and weakening when hampered 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 16, well behind Oscar Owen (10-6) at Newbury 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Laudamus 4-1 (11-8) Mid-division, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Rebel Melody (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 9 ran.
