held up in rear, headway to chase winner 9th, pressed winner when hit 2 out, soon beaten
tracked leader, left in lead 7th, hampered by loose horse 12th and 2 out, ridden clear approaching last
held up in touch when tied to duck out and unseated rider 12th
keen led, fell 7th
tracked leaders, left 2nd at 7th until 9th, not fluent 10th, weakened 4 out
close up when unseated rider 5th
Wood Pigeon is 0-12 under Rules and didn’t get far last time at Warwick but he’s dropped in class for this having shown a bit of promise over a longer trip earlier at Sedgefield. Mondo Cane is only a pound higher than for his only previous success over fences and his latest third at Southwell is the best piece of recent form on offer. He seems sure to go close with a clear round and this course seems to bring the best out of Wish In A Well and Max Kendrick takes off 5lb. ACHILL ROAD BOY travels down from the Scottish Borders and is potentially well treated so gets a tentative vote in a race that won't take much winning.
Achill Road Boy (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Close up, led 5 out, headed before 3 out, weakened from last, 7th of 10, 34 3/4l behind Lochnell (11-3) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Wood Pigeon (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders when blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Mondo Cane (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, one pace in 3rd place from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Weyburn (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Tower Of Allen (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway from 2 out, plugged on, never on terms, 4th of 8, dist behind Kilronan Castle (12-0) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Wish In A Well (IRE) 11-4 (10-0) Jumped right at times, keen tracked leaders, ridden 12th, kept on to go 2nd run in, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Little Windmill (12-4) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Dougalstar (FR) 50-1 (10-0) Behind, headway before 10th to chase leaders, pushed along 13th, pulled up before 15th, at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
