prominent, led 3rd, mistake 11th, headed 4 out, lost place before next
behind, headway 12th, weakened 3 out, pulled up last
tracked leaders, hard driven 4 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, nearest finish
always behind
mid-division, chased leaders halfway, effort 3 out, hard ridden to challenge after last, not reach winner
mid-division, mistake 2nd, never a factor
behind, under pressure 12th, soon beaten
led until 3rd, remained prominent, lost place 4 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders 8th, lost place after next, pulled up before 3 out
soon in touch, headway 8th, soon chasing leaders, led 4 out, strongly challenged after last, kept on well
held up in rear, headway 11th, hard ridden 5 out, soon beaten
HIGH JACK is the call with Star Galaxy and Ballycarney best of the rest. Andy Turnell's charge has dropped plenty in the handicap following a string of moderate runs with plenty of give underfoot. The switch to a faster surface should make all the difference and he is off a light enough racing weight to make it count. Star Galaxy has plenty of guts and has been a credit to John Flint this term. A 6lb rise has been allocated for a gritty win at Plumpton so the handicapper now estimates that the handler has improved him by a full 40lb since November. Ballycarney has his second run for Emma Lavelle having left Henrietta Knight. Expect to see plenty of use made of him today. Maximix is far from fluent though this fast track could well play to his strengths. Alphabetical has been campaigned in hunter chases of late. Jake Greenall is able to claim 7lb in this company but his horse will need to have shown significant improvement for the application of blinkers. Cloud Nine came to grief at the second fence on handicap introduction. Proven on fast going, it would be no surprise to see interest at larger odds. Lidjo De Rouge has offered little this season though has ran well at this time of the year in the past. Not easy to rule out many of these and High Jack is the call.
Alphabetical (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 7, 5l behind Jurado Express (11-13) at Kempton 2m 4f hts chs (4) gd in Mar.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Tracked leading trio, headway to 3rd at 7th, 2nd after 3 out, upsides going best 2 out, led last, kept on well flat, driven out (no time taken), won at Plumpton 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy beating She's Humble (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ballycarney (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Made most, pecked 14th, soon headed, lost place 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 21l behind Phoenix Des Mottes (9-7) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 4out, soon chasing winner, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Holmwood Legend (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Cloud Nine (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders until fell 2nd, in a race won by Bradford Boris (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 5 ran.
Maximix 2-1fav (11-6) Raced wide, tracked leading pair, chased winner 12th, ridden before 2 out, held when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Sesame Rambler (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar, 5 ran.
Glad Big (GER) 16-1 (11-5) In touch, raced keenly, slightly hampered 4th, led approaching 11th, headed before 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Knighton Combe (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Morestead (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Led, driven after 11th, mistake next, headed briefly, ridden and joined 2 out, headed last, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Dusk (10-6) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Blue Dark (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, beaten approaching last, 5th of 15, 14l behind Cesium (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
High Jack (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, chased leaders halfway, pushed along and effort 5 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 25l behind Whitewater Dash (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Local Present (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, blundered 7th, modest 5th 4 out, stayed on into 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Josear (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
