took keen hold, held up on outside, headway to lead 2nd, headed after 4th, lost place after 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before normal 4 out
led until 2nd, lost place 4th, went 3rd and ridden after 10th, no impression, well beaten 2 out
prominent, mistake 1st, led after 4th, headed next, led 7th, drew clear after 2 out, stayed on
in rear, jumped violently left 1st, given reminder, tended to jump left after, passed some rivals 6th, blundered badly 8th, soon lost touch, pulled up after 10th
towards rear, mistake 6th, some headway 10th, went remote 4th before 2 out, mistake last
in rear, hampered 8th, well behind normal 4 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, lost place when pecked 7th, blundered next, pulled up after 10th
prominent, led 5th, headed 7th, ridden and beaten from 2 out, no extra last
held up in mid-division, headway after 10th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last
This doesn’t look a race for maximum stakes. Bignorm placed at Southwell last time and a similar contest but JOEY STEEL was probably a bit unlucky in a seller at Fakenham three weeks ago and this doesn’t look much better. Friary Land is also a maiden but there is a slight chance that he’ll make a better chaser than hurdler given his point-to-point background. Ring The Moon may be best of the rest
Ardbruce (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, modest headway when not fluent 12th, beaten when pulled up before 4 out, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Friary Land 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, badly hampered 3rd, pushed along after 4 out, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden and kept on near side rail before last, 4th of 18, 5 1/2l behind Uisce Ur (11-4) at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Ring The Moon 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway after 7th, every chance when hit 2 out, held last, stayed on, 2nd of 18, 3 1/4l behind Alkopop (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Gallic Geordie 9-2fav (11-1) Keen towards rear, not fluent 8th, ridden before 4 out, lost touch 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Ffos Las 2m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Watar Allstar (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Prominent until mistake 3rd, pushed along after 10th, behind 12th, 12th of 15, dist behind Overworkdunderpaid (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Treacys Jim (IRE) 250-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, tailed off after 5th, 10th of 12, dist behind Grumpy Charley (11-4) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Just In A Muddle (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Towards rear, ridden and well beaten after 7th, tailed off, 16th of 18, dist behind Alkopop (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Bignorm (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up in midfield, headway to chase leaders 15th, stayed on under pressure before 3 out, in touch 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Ecossais (11-12) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Joey Steel (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Close up, tracked leader 7th, ridden and every chance from 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Invincible Cave (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
