held up, ridden and weakened well over 3 out
close up, led 3rd, clear next, ridden and mistake 3 out, headed next, weakened last
held up in rear, ridden and weakened 3 out
led, soon clear, jumped right 1st, reluctant 2nd, headed next, weakend 5th, pulled up before 2 out
keen in touch, effort to lead 2 out, ran on flat, eased near finish
close up, chased leader 4th, ridden and every chance from 2 out, no extra flat
Jonjo O'Neill saddles three runners here with All right Now M'Lad looking the pick of them but none of the trio make much appeal and the vote goes to Von Origny, who is preferred to Valley Ride. The last mentioned stepped up on his debut effort in a Bangor bumper when running out the good winner of a race at Ludlow in January and has to be respected on his hurdling debut but Von Origny looks to have the better form and is preferred. Henry Daly's gelding made a winning debt in a Wetherby bumper before going down by just a short head to the useful Rebel Rhythm at Bangor last month. That represents solid bumper form and, if he can translate to hurdles, the son of Blushing Flame should be too good for these. All right Now M'Lad showed promise on his only start at Huntingdon and makes more appeal than stablemates Delgay Lad and Goss Hawk but Jonjo O'Neill's horses look to still be some way short of their best and of more interest may be Mark Brisbourne's Charlie Chapel. He needs to improve on recent evidence to trouble Von Origny and, provided that he can jump, Henry Daly's gelding should be too classy for his rivals.
Alright Now M'Lad (IRE) 8-1 Mid-division, headway over 4f out, driven to challenge over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 20, 8l behind Bugle Major at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec.
Charlie Chapel 66-1 Held up in touch, pushed along and weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 25l behind Mighty Man at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Delgay Lad 100-1 In touch, close up 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 15th of 18, well behind Regents Walk at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
Jack Doran 66-1 Veered left start, always behind, tailed off 4th, last of 7, well behind Sea Captain at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Feb.
Valley Ride (IRE) 2-1fav In touch, ridden to lead 3f out, kept on, just held on, won at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gs in Jan beating Charming Fellow by a hd, 15 ran.
Von Origny (FR) 13-2 Held up, pushed along 6th, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, ran on well from last, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Rebel Rhythm at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Feb.
Goss Hawk (NZ) 66-1 Held up in touch, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by The Listener at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (C) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
