towards rear, struggling when fell 8th
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
held up, headway to chase leaders 9th, ridden 4 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway 9th to track leaders, went 2nd 14th, 12 lengths down when beaten last, eased run-in
towards rear, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 18th
tracked leader, led 6th, made rest, clear 2 out, comfortably
chased leaders, pushed along 15th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, headed 6th, mistake next, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
The eyes are immediately drawn towards the course and distance winners, Iron Express and Gimme Shelter, here with our preference being for Iron Express, with Red Perk another to consider. The selection has actually won from just a pound-higher mark than today and, as we say, has proven that he can go well here, and this is a very demanding track. A possible downside is that he has not raced for 114 days, but we will take that chance. Red Perk's form is solid and he finished 10-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Gimme Shelter when they met at Carlisle over three-and-a-quarter miles last time, and the latter is now only two pounds worse off. However, a further point is that Gimme Shelter is now just a pound above the mark from which he won this race two years ago. Leyland Comet won his maiden chase well enough and should progress further, but his task is not easy off topweight, while there is no doubt that Jacksonville is potentially well-handicapped although his latest run did not inspire confidence. The hunter chaser Go Nomadic might find one or two too good for him, Red Alert Man, up five pounds for his Leicester success, races from four pounds out of the weights, and Thorntoun House, despite first-time blinkers, is well out of the weights and hard to fancy. This returns us to Iron Express, who gets the vote.
Leyland Comet (IRE) 15-2 Chased leaders, went prominent 9th, reminders 10th, led next, ridden clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (E) sft in Jan beating Dumadic by 19l, 11 ran.
Iron Express 6-1 Made most to 6th, chased winner to 15th, under pressure when blundered 3 out, no danger after, 4th of 9, 26l behind Place Above at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
Red Perk (IRE) 8-1 Mid-division, chased leaders 13th, ridden 4 out, no impression from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Supreme Breeze at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
Jacksonville (FR) 11-1 Tracked leaders, reminders 10th, lost place 13th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Supreme Breeze at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs, 10 ran.
Go Nomadic 6-1 Led, headed 15th, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 13, 24l behind Red Perk at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gd in Feb.
Gimme Shelter (IRE) 25-1 Tracked leaders, mistake 12th, lost place after next, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 28l behind Supreme Breeze at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
Red Alert Man (IRE) 5-1 Prominent, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (F) sft in Feb beating York Rite by a hd, 9 ran.
Thorntoun House (IRE) 20-1 Led, blundered 3rd, headed 8th, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 47l behind Lauderdale at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) hvy in Feb.
