keen in mid-division, outpaced 6th, plugged on
mid-division on inside, hit 2nd, weakening when mistake 6th, behind and struggling after, tailed off
raced wide, led until headed and mistake 2 out, chased winner after but no chance, blundered and lost 2nd at the last, weakened
raced on inside, tracked leading pair, tracked leader 3rd, led going well 2 out, soon clear, easily
towards rear, headway after 5th, chased leaders next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, fell last
behind, closer in mid-division after 5th, pushed along in 5th after 3 out, weakened next, hampered last, unseated rider soon after
always towards rear, kept on into remote 4th run-in
chased leader until 3rd, chased leading pair until before 6th, weakened next, tailed off, mistake 2 out
chased leaders, 3rd before 6th, went 2nd at the last, plugged on, no chance with winner
towards rear, headway after 3 out, plugging on in 4th when fell last
always in rear, losing touch when not fluent 5th, tailed off
Sea Of Mystery is a likely improver and Crushed, a dual winner on the Flat, is surely better than he showed when favourite on his hurdling debut at Catterick in January. But existing form points to this being a tussle between the more-exposed CASTERLY ROCK and Euxton Lane. Both were second last time but preference is for the Philip Hobbs’ trained gelding, who stuck resolutely to his task in a better race at Ludlow.
Booborowie (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 12, dist behind The New Pharaoh (11-5) at Leicester 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Cappaway (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Mid-division when fell 1st, at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Casterly Rock (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led 1st, not fluent 4 out, headed 3 out, no impression on winner final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Melangerie (10-5) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Euxton Lane (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division on inside, steady headway tracking leaders after 3 out, kept on steadily into 2nd run-in, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Global Citizen (11-4) at Southwell 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Maratt (FR) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 2nd, ridden in beaten 4th 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, dist behind Lisp (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) hvy in Jan.
Montycristo 66-1 (11-6) Behind, mistakes 3rd and next, headway into modest 4th 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 4th of 13, 32 1/2l behind Lisp (10-7) at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Powerstown Park (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost place 10f out, ridden 6f out, closed on inside 5f out, weakened 4f out, tailed off, 12th of 16, dist behind Time To Move On (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (6) sft in Dec.
Sea Of Mystery (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 3 out, no impression, well held from 2 out, 8th of 14, 27 3/4l behind The Russian Doyen (11-8) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
The Cannister Man (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders 8th, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 10, 16l behind Boreham Bill (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Feb.
Mazalto (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders on outside, pecked 1st, blundered and unseated rider next, at Huntingdon 2m (4) sft in Feb.
War At Sea (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, blundered 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 32 3/4l behind First Drift (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Feb.
Dream Baie (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, well beaten from 3 out, 8th of 10, dist behind The Premier Celtic (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Crushed (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) In touch, weakening when blundered 2 out, 7th of 11, dist behind Cornerstone Lad (11-4) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Jan.