in touch, jumped left 4th, ridden from 6th, mistake 3 out, kept on under pressure from 2 out, edged right flat
held up, not fluent 4th, mistake next, pulled up after 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, joined 2 out, headed last, all out, hung right flat
mid-division, keen, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, keen, ridden, weakened 3 out
held up, keen, mistake 6th, headway soon after, weakened 2 out
towards rear, headway 4 out, one pace from 3 out
led, ridden 3 out, headed, weakened
mid-division, ridden, weakened 3 out
keen, mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to dispute lead 2 out, led last, ridden out
Investment Wings can get recent losses back at the expense of Wotchalike and Heathyards Joy. Investment Wings has proved to be a major disappointment on both the Flat and over jumps, remaining a maiden after 15 career starts, and it has to be said that he went out like a light when the chips were down at Hereford last week. Sent off as an odds-on favourite, dropped to selling grade for the first time, and partnered by Tony McCoy, David Pipe's charge held every chance two out, but faded to finish third. However, that was over four furlongs longer than today's trip, and with the fast ground not a problem, we are going to give this rascal one more chance to redeem himself. Wotchalike would win this based on his defeat of Shannon Springs at Exeter in October, but since then he has gone right off the boil, and despite tackling lesser company here, is worth taking on again, while of the rest, only Heathyards Joy is worth a second glance. All three of his runs over hurdles have been round Ludlow, and he was successful in similar company on the third of them in November. Reg Hollinshead's six-year-old bombed out badly on the all-weather on his next outing in January and has been absent since. He is best watched unless the market speaks in his favour, with preference for Investment Wings to the smallest of stakes.
Wotchalike (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Always behind, 13th of 17, 35l behind Or Jaune (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Zando 50-1 (11-5) In touch, headway 4 out, joined winner before next, weakened 2 out, 11th of 20, 43l behind Final Bid (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Investment Wings (IRE) 10-11fav (11-1) Led, headed 2nd, led again 4 out, headed after 2 out, faded, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Ricardo's Chance (11-1) at Hereford 2m 4f nov sll hdl (5) gf in Mar.
Mirage Prince (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) In touch, mistake when weakening 6th, 12th of 14, well behind Grey Samurai (10-11) at Southwell 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Monash Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Led, jumped left 3rd, ridden and weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Walton Way (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov sll hdl (5) gd in Feb, 14 ran.
Tetrode (USA) 66-1 (10-13) Mid-division, mistake 4th, some headway 4 out, weakened before next, 10th of 12, well behind Doctor David (10-9) at Fakenham 2m cnd mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
The Terminator (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Always rear, 13th of 16, well behind I'm So Lucky (11-1) at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Heathyards Joy 9-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 4 lengths down when left in lead last, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Nov beating Gold Guest (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Count The Trees 33-1 (9-7) Hit 4th, always behind, 7th of 9, 19l behind Atlantic Rhapsody (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Shropshirelass 50-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, bumped 3rd, led 6th, headed 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 14, 10l behind Walton Way (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov sll hdl (5) gd in Feb.