held up, headway 8th, weakened 11th
led to 2nd, with leaders, hit 10th, weakening when carried left 4 out
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden and every chance from 2 out, no extra close home
in touch, led 10th to 13th, jumped left 15th, ridden to lead again 2 out, driven out
held up, headway 12th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, pushed along 10th, weakened 14th
mid-division, lost place 7th, not much room when hit and unseated rider 8th
with leader, led 2nd to 10th, led again 13th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
always behind
A terrific handicap chase that may fall to Monger Lane, with Hawk's Landing and Yes My Lord two very live dangers. The selection beat previous winner Thedreamsstillalive over course and distance last time, with a subsequent winner back in third. The ground was good to soft on that occasion but he has been successful on heavy in the past and he looks certain to go close again today. Hawk's Landing bounced back to his best last time when chasing home Naunton Brook at Market Rasen. A similar performance would see him in the shake up this afternoon. Martin Pipe's Yes My Lord was an impressive winner of a hurdles contest last time and will know doubt have been well schooled for his chase debut. Merry Storm is another to consider for each-way purposes, but with ground, course and trip in his favour, Monger Lane looks the one to be on.
General Gossip (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Bumped 2nd, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Schuh Shine (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Elvis Returns 15-2 (10-12) Always behind, 8th of 12, well behind Welcome To Unos (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gd in Jan.
Hawk's Landing (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Held up, headway approaching 11th, every chance 2 out, hard ridden from last, stayed on, just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind Naunton Brook (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Yes My Lord (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up, headway 6th, led 3 out, stayed on well, won at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft beating Buckland Gold (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Merry Storm (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway 9th, chased winner, hit 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened, 3rd of 15, 8l behind Boardroom Dancer (11-3) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-88 (5) gd in Jan.
Monger Lane 14-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 3 out, switched left approaching last, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan beating Thedreamstillalive (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Highland Chief (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Track leader, hampered 5th, weakened next, 6th of 16, 39l behind Tokala (11-4) at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Channahrlie (IRE) 9-1 (9-13) Held up, lost place 7th, kept on one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Fin Bec (10-9) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jan.
Buzybakson (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Hampered and fell in race won by Jacarado (10-7) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) sft, 14 ran.
