held up in touch, steady headway 8th, chased leading pair next, chased winner before 2 out, ridden and over 3 lengths down when mistake last, rallied as winner tired near finish, just held
ran in snatches, chased leading pair, driven along 7th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 9th
made most until headed 8th, weakened next, left poor 5th and hampered 2 out, struggling after, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake and reminders 6th, lost touch when pulled up before 9th
held up towards rear, left modest 4th 2 out, stayed on into modest 3rd before last
held up towards rear, hit 3rd and 5th, left poor 3rd 2 out, until before last
chased leader, led 8th, pushed over 4 lengths clear last, tired near finish, held on
in touch, mistake 6th, soon pushed along and lost place, behind when pulled up before 9th
Nonrunner
It will be interesting to see how the market shapes up for Barney Curley's The Bonus Ball ahead of his debut in a handicap having been well beaten behind Mille Chief in a novices' hurdle at Huntingdon on his latest start but a safer option looks to be ACONITUM, who is preferred to Canni Thinkaar. Jim Best's gelding has been in really good heart this term, winning three handicaps on the bounce at Ludlow, Huntingdon and Hereford, prior to a disappointing effort in defeat at Taunton last time. There is a suspicion that he may now be a shade high in the weights following those earlier wins and may have to settle for minor honours. The Boffinator ran better on heavy ground at Lingfield last time, although he was well beaten by the winner, but he has to be considered. Gary Moore has his string in good form so Isle de Maurice has to be respected but he needs to step up on recent hurdles form to get involved at the end of the race, while David Pipe's Painter Man has struggled in both starts so far this term and a safer option looks to be Aconitum. Neil Mulholland's gelding has been running consistently well and looks worth siding with despite having been raised 4lbs since his latest effort when fourth behind Sona Sasta at Ffos Las.
Painter Man (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 6, 8l behind Noble Bily (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Attorney General (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Soon chased leaders, ridden 8th, soon struggling, eased before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Fruity O'rooney (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) std in Feb, 14 ran.
Honour High 20-1 (11-12) In rear, not fluent 7th, behind from next, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Winterwood (11-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
The Boffinator 50-1 (10-8) Held up, headway on outside from 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Fruity O'rooney (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) std in Feb.
Aconitum (GER) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 16, 24l behind Sona Sasta (10-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Knock Em Dead (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Held up, weakened 3 out, 7th of 14, 29l behind Stick Together (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Canni Thinkaar (IRE) 15-8fav (11-9) Prominent, chased leader 8th, led 9th, narrowly headed 3 out, lost 2nd well before next, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 39l behind Herald Angel (10-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
The Bonus Ball (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 34l behind Mille Chief (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Doctored 11-2 (11-4) Mid-division, under pressure after 4th, soon beaten, 6th of 9, 45l behind Ban Uisce (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Jan.
Isle de Maurice 3-1 (11-0) Mid-division, lost place before 6th, struggling next, no impression after, 8th of 12, 8l behind Good For Blue (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
