led, jumped left 8th, headed before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in 4th, not fluent 5th or next, went 3rd 9th, hit 15th, closed to go 2nd 3 out, ridden after 2 out, led flat, driven out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 7th, led approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, hung right and headed after last, no extra
chased leader, challenging when mistake 5th, hit next, soon lost 2nd, last 9th, pulled up after 13th
Nonrunner
Just the four runners turn up for this Handicap Chase and as they are all out for form they all hold claims but BUBBLE BOY doesn't look that badly treated so he gets the nod with Fine Parchment looking the danger and Ballyguleen the best of the remaining pair. Having stayed about this far when winning a better class of contest at Leicester in December the pick has had a couple of poor runs since. That means though he's now rated just two pounds higher then when winning that day and with the talented Joshua Moore good value for his seven pound claim Brendan Powell's gelding has a good chance. Fine Parchment probably has less to prove on the stamina front after winning in horrible conditions over a few furlongs less in December. He looks a little high in the weights but with this race likely to be tactical he could defy the handicapper. Ballyguleen has struggled in three runs off this mark having scored back to back victories while Digger Gets Lucky will have to show improved form to get up. We might just have a handful of runners but this is a tricky puzzle to solve but we think that Bubble Boy looks the best treated.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Led until 13th, weakened after next, soon behind, 7th of 9, 45l behind Plum Pudding (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) In touch, headway to 2nd 6th, led approaching 10th until headed approaching 4 out, disputing 3rd when blundered 3 out, weakened and mistake next, 5th of 11, 29l behind Sharajan (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Ballygulleen (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) In rear, struggling 14th, soon tailed off, last of 5, well behind Burton Port (11-7) at Ascot 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Digger Gets Lucky (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Held up, weakened from 12th, tailed off approaching last, 7th of 14, 29l behind Absolute Shambles (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Gunship (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Made most until headed 8th, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Herald Angel (10-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
