held up, steady headway 5th, ridden to lead after 2 out, ran on
led, ridden 5th, headed next, every chance 2 out, kept on, held by winner
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon held, stumbled last
in touch, not fluent 2nd, slow jump and lost place, pulled up after 4th
mid-division, headway 4th, in touch and weakening when unseated rider 2 out
towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out
prominent and keen, weakened after 4th, behind and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, led 3 out, ridden and headed after, weakened last
in touch, every chance and jumped left 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out, out of contention when hampered and unseated rider last
mid-division, lost place 4th, behind when fell last
tracked leaders, weakening when mistake 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 5th
in rear, not jump well, some progress 3 out, out of contention when fell last
Mr Ex can come out on top over Diafa and Savoy Chapel, with Heathyards Joy and Time For You also worth a mention. Mr Ex was quite a promising bumper performer two years ago, but failed to progress, and having left Alan Swinbank for Howard Johnson, is now on his third trainer after being claimed out of a Catterick seller by Geoff Harker. He showed his best form for some time when second at the Yorkshire track, and would not need to improve much to go one better. Diafa looked an assured future winner when just touched off in a Bangor claimer the time before last, but the fact that she was then tailed off in a seller here next time shows that reliability is not her strong suit. Tony Carroll is double-handed, with Savoy Chapel the pick of his pair on the strength of some consistent effots on the all-weather recently. Heathyards Joy was gifted with her first win over timber when left in the lead at the last in similar company at Ludlow in November, and has been beaten twice since, so cannot be put forward with confidence, while Time For You lost her form completely last year and is best watched. Another poor affair can go to Mr Ex.