led, ridden 2 out, headed flat, one pace under pressure
tracked leader, ridden approaching last, weakened flat
held up in rear, smooth headway after 2 out, led flat
chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
held up in rear, headway 4 out to track leaders, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 2 out, effort and chance last, no extra flat
The vote here goes to Just In Debt ahead of Strong Resolve and Jordan's Ridge. Racing from just four pounds above his Welsh National runner-up mark, Strong Resolve, who has been a revelation for connections this year, still looks a danger, despite being absent from the track since the Welsh marathon. However, Just In Debt is also progressing as a chaser, as his second in Aintree's Becher Chase last time from a six-pound lower mark testifies. In fact, working through the winner of both that race and the Welsh National, Silver Birch, Just In Debt comes out best. A Piece Of Cake won the four-mile Scottish Borders National here from today's mark in March 2003, is effective at today's trip, but he's been absent since the backend of 2003. Haut de Gamme, who has gone well here in the past, is just four pound above a winning mark, while Jordan's Ridge, who is very well handicapped based on 2003 form, and who has won twice here including over course and distance, could also go well. With Pillaging Pict having had very little racing of late, and Fields Of Home not having built on early chasing promise - although he wears a tongue tie for the first time here, we turn our attention again to the top end of the weights, and, of these, we side with Just In Debt.
A Piece of Cake (IRE) 16-1 Held up in rear, outpaced 10th, left remote 4th 5 out, no impression, 4th of 8, well behind Gunner Welburn at Wetherby 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Dec '03.
Haut de Gamme (FR) 12-1 Mid-division, headway after 8th, hampered 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Whereareyounow at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (B) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Fields of Home (IRE) 16-1 Behind from halfway, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by King's Bounty at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Feb, 12 ran.
Pillaging Pict 25-1 Mid-division, ridden 7th, soon weakened, behind when blundered last, 6th of 11, 31l behind Kelrev at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) hvy in Jan '04.
Jordan's Ridge (IRE) 16-1 Held up in rear, headway 13th, effort approaching last, led briefly flat, kept on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind King's Bounty at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Feb.
