held up, headway approaching 4th, chased winner next, every chance 3 out, ridden after 2 out, edged right and weakening when mistake last
left chasing winner 2nd, mistake next, lost second 5th, ridden and weakened after 2 out
held up, hampered 2nd, headway 12th, pecked 2 out, soon beaten, blundered badly last, took remote 3rd flat
chased winner until fell 2nd
made all, clear after 1st until 6th, in command before last, ran on well
Another small field and narrow preference is for PRESENTING EXPRESS for an in-form Emma Lavelle. A return to quick ground could be the key for the ten-year-old who was last seen pulling up at Ludlow. He has a 33% strike-rate in chases and assuming that everything is ok after last time (jockey dismounted), he can run well. Millards Lad has not shown enough recently to suggest that he can get a win for his new yard and he looks handicapped to the hilt, so a bigger threat could be The Wicketkeeper who looks sure to improve now encountering quick ground and the handicapper has kindly dropped him 4lbs in the weights for his recent run at Sandown. Lord Alfred and Pairc Na Gcapall come here on the back of decent placed efforts; however it is Presenting Express who we will take a chance on.
Presenting Express (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) In rear, mistake 14th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Cresswell Willow (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Millards Lad (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Led until 7th, chased leader until mixtake 12th, dropped to last at 16th, struggling after, 5th of 6, 32l behind Zacharova (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
The Wicketkeeper (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, headway 15th, chased leading pair next, chasing leader and travelling well until mistake 3 out, weakened and mistake next, 4th of 6, 24l behind Zacharova (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Lord Alfred (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Made most until 15th, ridden 4 out, soon led again, headed, hit 3 out, not fluent, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 4, 13l behind Keepitsecret (11-2) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Pairc Na Gcapall (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Led, soon clear, joined after 10th, left clear 12th, ridden and headed soon after 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Valley Ride (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs.
