held up in touch, pushed along in 2nd approaching last, kept on
held up, not fluent 2nd and 3rd, outpaced from 5th
tracked leaders, went 3rd after 2 out, kept on
made all, driven out flat
tracked winner, hit 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened from 2 out
Lucy Wadham's LAHARNA probably found the ground softer than ideal when last seen at Fakenham in May and back on more suitable ground he looks worth siding with off a mark just 2lbs higher than when winning at Plumpton in February and gets the vote ahead of King Diamond and Bollitree Bob. Jamie Snowden's gelding jumped poorly before being pulled up on his reappearance here last month but is better than he showed that day and has claims provided that the ground does not soften up too much. Safe Investment has been well held in both starts this term and is hard to recommend with a bigger threat likely to come from Normandy Landings. Neil Mulholland's gelding is less exposed than most of his rivals after just five starts and may do better now sent handicapping. She's Humble probably needs more help from the handicapper and of more interest is King Diamond. Frank Jordan's gelding was slightly disappointing at Fontwell last month but earlier form gives him every chance and he has to be respected off his light weight. Provided that there is no further softening of the ground though, Laharna looks the one to be on.
Laharna 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 8, 49l behind Tigu (11-10) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Safe Investment (USA) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 3 out until 2 out, no impression in 3rd when left 2nd and hampered last, lost that place towards finish, 3rd of 11, 26l behind Desperate Dex (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Normandy Landings 9-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, mistake 2nd, challenge 7th, ridden and lost place approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 13, 20l behind Star Galaxy (9-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
She's Humble (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) With leader, led 4th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 11l behind Nomecheki (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov stks (3) sft.
King Diamond (FR) 6-1 (10-1) Mid-division, chased leaders halfway, effort 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 29l behind Ere Alfie (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Dec.
Bollitree Bob 10-1 (11-8) Pulled hard, prominent, chased leader after 3rd, not fluent 6th, hit 4 out, lost 2nd after next, soon weakened, blundered badly 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Desperate Dex (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.