held up mid-division, jumped left 2nd, headway 3 out, led last, headed 1f out
held up rear, mistake 4th, headway 7th, ridden to chase leader when not much room approaching final bend, switched to lead 1f out, kept on
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and every chance 1f out, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 8th
always in rear, mistakes 3rd and 4th
led until ridden and weakened 8th
in touch, headway 5th, weakened 7th
in touch, mistake 5th and soon lost place
held up rear, some headway 3 out, soon one pace
in touch, lost place 5th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
Speed Venture, a winner on this card two years ago, is selected in preference to Mini Dare and Ma Furie, who are frustrating characters but have to be respected in this company. As does Three Lions, who is dangerously well treated on the pick of his form and will go close if his jumping holds together this afternoon. Ma Furie is yet to get off the mark since she joined Henrietta Knight but has run several good races in defeat. However, she was well beaten when she fell last time out and now has something to prove. Support for Mini Dare can virtually be assured now that Tony McCoy has consented to give him another go. Nevertheless, the blinkers hardly had the desired effect last time he also looks a little risky for a big stakes play. Therefore, we take up sides with Speed Venture, who knows his way around here and, off only a 3lb higher mark than the last time he was successful, he has very little to find in this company.
Ma Furie (FR) 8-1 Held up until fell 5 out in race won by Cashel Dancer at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Fortune Island (IRE) 11-1 Pulled hard and held up last, ridden 4th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Genghis at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Three Lions 12-1 Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden and every chance when fell at the last in race won by Go For Bust at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Feb, 17 ran.
Mini Dare 7-2jt-fav Held up and keen, headway after 9th, ridden to lead 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 13, 7l behind Lowe Go at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Jan.
Speed Venture 5-2fav Held up in touch, ridden, outpaced 4 out, stayed on approaching last, 4th of 9, 16l behind Caliban at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Feb.
Mantles Prince 25-1 Always prominent, led after 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Penny's Crown at Hereford 2m 3f sll hdl (G) sft in Feb.
Big Max 33-1 Chased leaders, led 6th, ridden and headed after 3 out, every chance approaching last, weakened flat, 7th of 16, 15l behind Turaath at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Feb.
Titian Flame (IRE) 7-1 Jumped right, always behind, tailed off, 3rd of 8, well behind Always Waining at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (C) sft in Feb.
Penny's Crown 20-1 Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 3f sll hdl (G) sft in Feb beating Kings Castle by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Sir Walter (IRE) 7-1 Took keen hold, held up, brief effort after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 27l behind Dere Lyn at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) hvy in Feb.
Revelino (IRE) 14-1 Chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 20, 18l behind Errol at Doncaster 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Jan.
Foxmeade Dancer 15-2 Held up, headway after 7th, ridden and hung right after 3 out, weakened quickly, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Dere Lyn at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Kings Rock 33-1 Towards rear, smooth headway 9th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and one pace from next, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Galero at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gf in Feb.
