not fluent, towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, effort approaching 2 out, no extra 2 out
towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leader, every chance when mistake 3 out, no extra approaching last
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced
always struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
in touch, lost place halfway, rallied 2 out, stayed on well to go 2nd after last, no extra towards finish
towards rear, lost touch 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway and in touch 7th, weakened after 2 out
in touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and effort 2 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, weakened 4 out
led, headed last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway 7th and in touch, weakened 3 out
mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly
in touch to halfway, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
We like the look of Merryvale Man in the finale, with others with possibilities being Political Sox, Tisn't Easy and Tobesure. Ashleybank House has yet to build ion his good 2003 novice from, although this is modest fare today. Merryvale Man, though, has been dropped to a more-realistic mark by the grader now and looks set to play his part in this race. Political Sox is just three pounds above a winning mark now and can also be considered. Mister Moussac is another that the handicapper has started to relent with now, but most of the others are looking disappointing all will need an about-turn in their form to feature, although Tisn't Easy can be considered based on the best of his Irish form at around this type of trip. The fact that he likes it here is something in Tobesure's favour, while Yankie Jamie now races from below the mark he won from in January 2003, but recent efforts have not been so good. The best of Web Master's fairly recent efforts give him some sort of a chance, while French Cedar had fair Irish form two years ago but, like DJ Flippance, injuries have interrupted their careers. Finally, Needwood Spirit was disappointing six days ago when seemingly well weighted for a contest, although it is interesting that connections have opted to run him again quickly. All this said. we return again to the selection, which is Merryvale Man.
Ashleybank House (IRE) 14-1 Prominent, hit 2 out, weakened quickly, 8th of 13, 31l behind Just Maybe at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Feb.
Merryvale Man 8-1 Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 11, 11l behind Spring Pursuit at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Feb.
Political Sox 100-1 Mid-division, lost touch from 6th, soon beaten, 11th of 13, 46l behind Far Pavilions at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gf in Feb.
Skenfrith 14-1 Always behind and pushed along, never dangerous, 6th of 14, 29l behind Roobihoo at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft in Jan.
Forever Eyesofblue 251 In touch until weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 24l behind Omni Cosmo Touch at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb.
Tobesure (IRE) 14-1 Held up, joined leaders 4 out, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on, 4th of 12, 7l behind Jack Lynch at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) sft in Feb.
Yankee Jamie (IRE) 100-1 In touch to halfway, 8th of 12, 30l behind King's Bounty at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Feb.
Web Master (FR) 9-2 In touch, ridden and weakened after 10th, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Risetotheoccasion at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Jan.
