chased winner to 3rd, weakened approaching last
held up in touch, in 3rd and going well when fell 2 out
held up in rear, ridden after 2 out, weakened after last
made all, ridden out
tracked leaders, chased winner from 3rd, challenged when mistake 2 out, every chance last not quicken flat
In the opener, each of the runners can be given something of a chance, with our vote going to Carthalawn. Silver Sedge has it to prove from his revised rating, but he will handle the going, while Carthalawn races from an eight-pounds higher mark than he did for his Fairyhouse third in December. He too will handle the conditions and gets every respect in this five-runner affair. Shares can be given a chance based on his Newcastle run last January although more-recent efforts - admittedly mainly over hurdles - are not confidence-inspiring. Even though he is 13 years old now, it is not beyond Ichi Beau to run well at this level, and Salinas's Huntingdon effort last time means that he cannot be ruled out of things. Overall, though, we will stick with Carthalawn.
Silver Sedge (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Held up, outpaced 4 out, no chance when blundered last, 7th of 9, 39l behind Another Promise (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Carthalawn (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Held up , progress on outer halfway, close 5th 4 out, 3rd after next, led after 2 out, headed after last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Skibb (9-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 hvy in Dec.
Shares (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 8th of 11, well behind Brave Vision (10-3) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Ichi Beau (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Prominent until lost touch and struggling from 10th, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Too Forward (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) hvy.
Salinas (GER) 9-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Elgar (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
