held up behind, headway and in touch 4 out, chased leading pair under pressure next, soon ridden and no impression, lost moderate 3rd last
tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat (no time taken)
led to 7th, chased leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to go moderate 3rd last, no chance with leading pair
chased leaders, lost place 10th, weakened 2 out, tailed off
held up behind, headway and in touch 5th, challenged 10th, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened 2 out, tailed off
tracked leader, led 7th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure approaching last, held flat
Checkerboard wouldn't be far away if recapturing his best form but this looks a tight handicap in which all seven runners have some sort of chance. Lahib The Fifth is getting a bit long in the tooth now while former point Farmer Frank may have too much weight, but Pamak D'Airy is capable on his day and Sierra Victor goes well here and won't mind the drop in distance. Ormello will enjoy the fast ground but returns from a break, as does STAGECOACH AMBER. Sue Smith's gelding hasn't raced since November but is now on a very fair mark and this is normally his time of year. He wasn't beaten far when last racing in this grade over C&D in October and could be the one to beat today.
Farmer Frank 6-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, hard ridden to chase leaders 5 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 35l behind Prince Des Marais (11-11) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Checkerboard (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) In touch in rear, headway 11th, ridden to lead 3 out, blundered and headed next, weakened last, 5th of 8, 27l behind Go Silver Bullet (10-12) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Pamak D'airy (FR) 16-1 (11-11) Held up, not fluent 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Babysitter (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Ormello (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Tracked winner early, lost place approaching 4 out, 4th of 5, 21l behind Cybora (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Stagecoach Amber (USA) 6-1 (10-6) In touch, tracked winner after 2nd, disputed lead 9th, hit 12th, blundered and lost place 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 4th of 8, 42l behind Sheriff Hutton (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Close up, towards rear from 3rd, ridden before 13th, blundered 5 out when weakening, 7th of 8, well behind Maurisca (11-13) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Sierra Victor (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Close up, ridden 4 out, mistake next, chased winner 2 out, kept on, no chance, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Nicky Tam (10-10) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
