led, not fluent 4th, headed after next, one pace and no impression before omitted 2 out
chased leaders on outside, slow normal 3 out, ridden and one pace after
held up, closed from 4th, went 2nd normal 3 out, led approaching omitted last, edged right, went clear, stayed on
always behind, tailed off from normal 3 out
chased leader until 4th, soon beaten, weakened from omitted 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led after next, ridden and headed approaching omitted last, stayed on same pace
Lake View Lad won the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby just over a year ago and has continued to race at a high level. He was only third in the race last month but should be reaching concert pitch though it's a long time since he ran over hurdles. River Frost has also been racing mainly over fences and was well beaten into third back over hurdles at Wetherby last month. Winning point-to-pointer THE CON MAN made a successful hurdling debut just over a year ago and was returning from a long break when twice placed in soft-ground handicaps at Haydock last month. He should improve further though Mcgowan's Pass looks an obvious danger after winning very easily on heavy ground at Ayr. Neither of the remaining pair can be dismissed in a tight handicap and Bialco loves it around here.
Lake View Lad (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 12th, outpaced after 15th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 11 1/4l behind Top Ville Ben (11-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
River Frost 14-1 (11-10) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 12, 14 1/2l behind West To The Bridge (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Con Man (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Chased leader from 2nd, left in lead after 4th, clear 2 out until last, headed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Flinck (10-10) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Newtown Boy (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) In touch, blundered 4th, chased leaders 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 11, 13 3/4l behind Sir Chauvelin (10-13) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Bialco (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Held up in mid-division on outside, mistake 7th, headway when not much room 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Ahead of The Curve (11-7) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
McGowan's Pass 15-8fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair, led before 4 out, clear before next, reached for 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Ayr 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Bulls Head (10-10) by 14l, 6 ran.
