close up, led 3rd, headed after 6th, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway before 4 out, staying on when fell 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, challenged 2 out, kept on to lead close home
led to 2nd, chased leaders, ridden after 5 out, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 7th, ridden and weakened before last
chased leaders, led 2nd, headed 3rd, remained close up, led again 6th, ridden before 2 out, looked in command run-in, quickly weakened and headed close home
in rear, mistake 9th, headway on outer before 4 out to chase leaders, went 2nd at last, kept on to lead close home
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, soon quickly weakened
held up mid-division, weakened before 6 out, pulled up before 4 out
SHADOWS LENGTHEN hadn't been running well before bouncing back at Doncaster where he was always travelling well. In that kind of form he'll take some stopping here. Gansey ran a fine race here in December and has found the going too testing in his subsequent starts so Sue Smith's veteran is one to keep on the right side. Ros Castle is consistent enough but probably needs more testing conditions and the once-promising Tiptoeaway could just need this, only his second start since October 2012. Noble Legend isn't the most consistent of performers but is well up to this if at his best and has a victory over the course and distance to his credit.
Noble Legend 8-1 (11-12) Chased leader until 3rd, chased leading pair, not much room on inside and hampered after 11th, tried to rally next, blundered 14th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Chartreux (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs, 8 ran.
Reaping The Reward (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 3rd, ridden before 9th, not fluent and weakened next, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Ericht (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Shadows Lengthen 7-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, headway into 3rd 4 out, challenged between last 2, led last, ridden out flat, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Jack The Gent (10-9) by 5l, 5 ran.
Tiptoeaway (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Raced wide, in touch, droppped to rear and jumped slowly 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Present View (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Gansey (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led, headed before 5 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 38l behind Wicklow Lad (10-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Real Milan (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden after 11th, well beaten from 14th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Night In Milan (10-12) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd, 12 ran.
Granville Island (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up behind in touch, went 3rd when blundered 5 out, lost place next, ridden and weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 33l behind Shadows Lengthen (11-1) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Rudemeister (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Hampered 1st, towards rear, jumped left 11th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up, in a race won by Bar De Ligne (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Ros Castle (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) In rear and pushed along, went 4th before 2 out, no impression, 4th of 8, 30l behind Mister Marker (11-7) at Kelso 2m 7f Am hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
