in touch, headway after 2 out, stayed on to lead briefly run-in, no extra close home
chased leaders, mistake 1st, pushed along 3 out, ridden and one pace from next
made most, headed briefly run-in, stayed on gamely towards finish
towards rear, lost touch halfway, tailed off and pulled up before last
close up, challenged 2 out, every chance when mistake last, weakened run-in
mid-division, mistake 5th, blundered badly and unseated rider next
in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, stayed on one pace from next
towards rear, lost touch halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
The selection here is Parknasilla ahead of Through The Rye and Alam. Through The Rye was a very good hurdler and seems to have transferred a good bit of that talent to chasing, judged on his short-head defeat of Parknasilla last time at Carlisle. However, the latter is seven pounds off at the weights today and, for us, that form makes him the one to beat. Apart from his hefty defeat behind the very useful Jazz d'Estruval at Ayr over a longer trip, Alam's form is solid and he can go well, but will a nine-pound turnaround in the weights enable Stormy Lord to make up a 15-length deficit from Carlisle? We think not, and Your Advantage has even more to find. The Miner has run well from a mark of 93 in handicaps, but that leaves him with a little to find, and, with Minouchka hard to build a case for, we return to Parknasilla, who gets the call in this race.
Through The Rye 20-1 Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden, went 2nd at the last, hard ridden flat, led post, won at Carlisle 2m nov chs (C) sft in Feb beating Parknasilla by a shd, 10 ran.
Alam (USA) 9-2 In touch, effort approaching 4 out, one pace 2 out, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Town Crier at Newcastle 2m nov chs (C) sft in Jan.
Stormy Lord (IRE) 14-1 Tracked leader, led approaching 4th, hit and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Through The Rye at Carlisle 2m nov chs (C) sft in Feb.
The Miner 8-1 In touch, effort from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Jericho III at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Jan.
Mondul (GER) 6-1 Tracked leader, led after 7th, quickened clear 4 out, ridden 3 out, held on well flat, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov chs (B) gs in Feb beating Sleep Bal by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Parknasilla 7-2 In touch, blundered 5th, headway 6th, led 2 out, hard ridden and edged left flat, headed post, 2nd of 10, shd behind Through The Rye at Carlisle 2m nov chs (C) sft in Feb.
Your Advantage (IRE) 50-1 Held up, no impression from 4 out, 5th of 10, 39l behind Through The Rye at Carlisle 2m nov chs (C) sft in Feb.
Minouchka (FR) 33-1 Held up, headway approaching 8th, chased winner 4 out, 6 lengths down and one pace when hit 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Locksmith at Doncaster 2m nov chs (B) gd in Jan.
