led 1st to 4th, stayed prominent, hampered 13th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th to 14th, weakened 4 out
led to 1st, in touch, ridden and headway 15th, led 3 out, clear approaching last, pushed out
held up, headway 7th, lost place 12th, rallied 14th, weakened 3 out
behind, headway approaching 12th, jumped right next, ridden when mistake 15th, weakened after 4 out
tracked leaders, led 4th, mistake 13th, hit 14th, jumped left 15th, ridden next, headed and mistake 3 out, kept on flat
tracked leaders, lost place when hampered 13th, no danger after
behind, headway when hampered 13th, mistake 14th, soon weakened
Nonrunner
Once again, this is, overall, a modest race, and from a shortlist containing Probus Lord, Be Upstanding, Paddy The Optimist and Silver Samuel, we will opt for Be Upstanding. The selection won from a mark of 102 in April 2003 (now rated 89) but, while he is clearly not as good as he once was, he ran well from today's mark last time, in fact he was unlucky not to score after making a mistake at the last, and a repeat performance gives him a good chance. Probus Lord was second here off a mark of 106 over hurdles in June 2003, but has shown little in his two runs since, both over fences, but I suppose a touch of ringrustiness might have played some part in that. Paddy The Optimist tends to do his winning at this time of year, so he holds claims, while much as Silver Samuel is more out than in these days, he holds claims in what is, as we say, a modest race. Overall, though, the selection has to be Be Upstanding.
Probus Lord 16-1 Always behind, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Happy Hussar at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Be Upstanding 3-1fav Raced mid-division, headway on bit from 4 out, chased winner 2 out, every chance last, hampered flat but held near finish, 2nd of 11, hd behind Don't Tell Jr at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Feb.
Paddy The Optimist (IRE) 7-2 In touch, outpaced approaching 12th, stayed on from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Tom Sayers at Taunton 3m chs (F) gf.
Mr Tenpercent 7-1 Tailed off from 4th, 5th of 8, 39l behind Laurier D'estruval at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs.
Quizzling (IRE) 28-1 Behind, mistake 3rd, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Dun Locha Castle at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd, 12 ran.
Silver Samuel (NZ) 50-1 Led to 2nd, reminders to lead again after 6th, headed approaching next, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Turaath at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd, 13 ran.
Brady Boys (USA) 20-1 In touch, slightly hampered 8th, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 16, well behind Isard du Buard at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft.
Reliance Leader 100-1 Held up rear, brought down 5th brought down at the 4th in race won by Miss Wizadora at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs, 11 ran.
Maisiebel 33-1 Mid-division until weakened after 7th, 13th of 15, 45l behind Moss Run at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (F) gd in Jan.
