chased leaders, led 7th until 9th, chased leaders, weakened 14th, blundered next
chased leaders, weakened and behind from 12th, struggling when blundered next
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 9th, mistake and headed next, stayed challenging, blundered 12th, hit next, left in lead 3 out, headed before last, no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway and in touch when blundered 11th, stayed on after 4 out, chasing leaders when badly hampered 3 out, stayed on gamely from last, almost snatched 2nd
chasing leaders when badly hampered 4th and pulled up
chased leaders, behind from 12th, pulled up soon after
chased leaders until fell 4th
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, left 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led before last, soon in command, stayed on well
always behind, mistakes, pushed along and struggling 10th, behind and no chance when hit 13th, tailed off
behind, headway to go prominent 9th, behind from 12th tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along in 6th after 4 out, soon weakened
led until 7th, chased leaders, led 10th, narrow lead when fell 3 out
behind, mistake 1st, headway approaching 4 out, pulled up before next
towards rear, headway 11th, chased leaders 13th, left 3rd 3 out, kept on same pace from next
always behind, mistake 2nd, reminders next, tailed off and pulled up soon after
always in rear, struggling from 12th, soon pulled up
KATALAK is our token choice in a wide open handicap chase with Noble Future, Quarrymount and Jacarado others to consider. Jon De Giles' charge ran a fair race last time over shorter but this step up in trip should see him in a much better light. He placed off a mark of 104 when last tackling a staying trip and needs the ground good or better so conditions look very much in favour, as does this revised rating of 100. In a competitive race, he gets the call ahead of Noble Future. Venetia Williams' gelding ran well in a better race than this last time and connections now turn to a fair claimer to help their charge. That decision can see him go close as he's another who relishes this sort of trip. Quarrymount has questions to answer as he's not quite looked the same horse since returning from an injury but he's so well handicapped on his old hurdles form that he definitely needs a mention. It'll be interesting to see how he goes in the market now set his easiest task for some time. Jacarado is only a few pounds higher than his last winning mark and this Towcester winner will have no stamina concerns, but he was readily brushed aside last time and may just be up against it. The form of Valentia Island's novice handicap win has taken some knocks and he's struggled since so we're taking on Gary Moore's charge, as we are Phar Again who has to prove he doesn't rely on soft ground. Ibberton is a thorough stayer who won't stop trying but on this ground he may lack a turn of foot and we'll return therefore to Katalak who gets a less than confident nomination.
Manmoon (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Chased winner, hit 4th, disputing 2nd from 6th until 13th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Bradford Boris (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Basoda 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, weakened approaching 12th, tailed off, 8th of 11, 48l behind Go West (11-9) at Warwick 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Quarrymount 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leader until unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Sesame Rambler (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar, 5 ran.
Katalak (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, tracked leading quartet travelling well after 4 out, disputing 2nd from 2 out, kept on flat, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Holmwood Legend (11-12) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Ibberton 7-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, last of 5, 19l behind Deep Pockets (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Ballykelly (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 4th to 5th, led 6th to 9th, ridden and weakened after 11th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Pelo Du Bief (10-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 5 ran.
Cunning Pursuit 50-1 (10-10) Not always fluent, led until 7th, soon ridden, weakened after 8th, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Earcomesthedream (10-13) at Hereford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 13 ran.
Petroupetrov (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Cobbler's Queen (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Departed (IRE) 66-1 (11-11) In touch, lost place 5th, struggling after 3 out, 10th of 15, 30l behind Dawn At Sea (11-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Phar Again (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed approaching next, no impression from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 20l behind Ukrainian Star (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Qualypso D'allier (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent on inside, lost place before 11th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Vamizi (11-5) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Legal Glory (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Always in rear, weakened 10th, 6th of 11, 36l behind Folie A Deux (10-11) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Mar.
Hugo Wolf (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 6th, 2nd when blundered next, soon lost place, well behind when pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Iris's Flyer (10-9) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr '09, 11 ran.
Noble Future 6-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway to go 5th after 4 out, 3rd before next, one pace, 3rd of 15, 19l behind Whitewater Dash (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Jacarado (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 10th until 14th, rallied to lead approaching 3 out, soon headed, no chance with winner when jumped right 2 out, 2nd of 15, 15l behind Whitewater Dash (11-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Le Briar Soul (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 12th, weakened 17th, hampered last, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Quiet Bob (11-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Valentia Island (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) In rear, headway approaching 5 out, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 5, 19l behind Deep Pockets (11-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
