prominent, lost place 2nd, behind 4th, stumbled 8th, soon lost touch, pulled up soon after
took keen hold in touch, hit 7th, chased winner 3 out, weakened last
prominent until 1st, tracked leaders on outside, hit 11th, weakened from 2 out
led until 2nd, led after 5th until hit 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold, joined leader 1st, led next until after 5th, led 8th, clear last, stayed on well
held up in touch, not fluent 6th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
In a race where plenty have questions to answer we'll take a speculative punt on SILLY WUPPLE who could go well at a price; he's preferred to Massini Sunset and Rileyev. Michael Scudamore's gelding has been well beaten of late but drops 7lb in the ratings to 103 as a consequence. That would look a very tasty mark if the horse is back in the form he showed late last year when placed off 112. It's arguable that he doesn't want ground as soft as this and that may well be so, but he has won on soft in the past and could surprise plenty here. Massini Sunset brings a more solid profile to the race having taken third last time. He's dropped down to his latest winning mark and has form at this trip on soft ground so with the 5lb claim of Peter Toole to boot he's got more obvious claims than most. Rileyev is the other runner to catch the eye. He was well beaten last time but the form was franked in style by the winner on Thursday, so a 5lb drop from the assessor looks generous and this one should go well. Celian enters calculations on his January success here, but he's now 8lbs higher and has failed to complete since so clearly comes with risks attached and we're prepared to take him on. Likewise, Prophete De Guye has the unfortunate habit of throwing in the odd shocker but if he's in a good mood then a big run would look likely off what is a reasonable mark. Play The Rock is interesting on his French form and may well improve for this trip so a market check is advised, but at this stage we prefer the each-way claims of Silly Wupple who could leave some punters smiling.
Silly Wupple 25-1 (11-7) Always behind, last of 8, 46l behind Mr Prickle (11-10) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, pushed along 7th, headway 9th, switched right and outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 11l behind Cesium (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Rileyev (FR) 17-2 (11-10) Chased leader until weakened rapidly 8th, soon tailed off, 4th of 11, well behind Holmwood Legend (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Phar Again (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place when hit 9th, behind 11th, tailed off, 11th of 15, dis behind Cesium (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Porta Vogie (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Prominent, challenging when bad mistake 2 out, not recover, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 36l behind King Jack (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Play The Rock (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Held up on outside, outpaced 4 out, stayed on under pressure from next, went 3rd last, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Miss Pross (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Ede's 6-4fav (9-12) Chased leaders, led 4 out, jumped right 2 out, ran on from last, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in May '08 beating Oldrik (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Celian (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, close up in 3rd and travelling ok when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Inthejungle (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy, 7 ran.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Held up, in rear, headway 10th, chased leaders next, never able to challenge, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Quel Bruere (11-12) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
