led, headed 3rd, led again 7th, jumped left 9th, headed next, soon lost place, jumped left and fell 12th
tracked leader, led 3rd, mistake and headed 7th, mistake and led 10th, headed 14th, soon ridden, mistake and one pace from 2 out
held up, in touch, went 3rd 3 out, chased leader next, led last, ran on
in touch, ridden and weakened 14th
close up, chased leader 8th, led 14th, ridden 2 out, headed last, stayed on
held up in touch, headway 11th, ridden and joined leader 14th, weakened 2 out
This looks far from straightforward with few of the field coming into the race in peak form. We'll take a chance with one of them and give the vote to The Dark Lord. Dunbrody Millar could be hard to pass if back on song but the selection could benefit from his presence if his usual frontrunning tactics are employed. They went a good gallop when The Dark Lord won over course and distance last time and a similar scenario could play into his hands. He's been raised 7lbs for that victory but should have the ability to be competitive from his revised mark. Cruising River and Craven are both capable but neither have completed on their last two outings, course specialist Cool Roxy would be a popular winner with the regulars and seems to be running as well as ever whilst Thistlecraft should be a player in this company and must be feared but we'll take The Dark Lord to prevail.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Prominent, jumped left throughout, hit 4th, weakened 16th, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Backbeat (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Cool Roxy 20-1 (11-4) Prominent to 4th, soon lost place, towards rear when hit 8th, not fluent after, plugged on, 5th of 14, 25l behind Yardbird (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, hampered next, led 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan beating Yann's (11-1) by 7l, 9 ran.
Cruising River (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until lost place after 10th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Yardbird (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Thistlecraft (IRE) 50-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, 10th of 20, 34l behind An Accordion (10-3) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jan.
Craven (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Slowly away, soon tracking leaders, ridden after 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Nacarat (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
