prominent, disputed lead 9th, ridden 13th, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, in touch, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, not fluent, one pace from 2 out
held up, mistake 9th (water), driven 12th, soon weakened
in touch, led after 9th, headed briefly 13th, ridden 4 out, jumped right, mistake 2 out, kept on
led, joined 9th, headed soon after, outpaced 11th, plugged on again near finish
held up in touch, headway 10th, led briefly 13th, ridden to chase winner from 4 out, one pace approaching 2 out
Nonrunner
Rehearsal looked the part on his last visit here, and can once again do the business, with High Calibre and Le Seychellois taken to give him most to do. It is not often that Len Lungo takes runners to Ludlow, so when Rehearsal lined up here on his last outing in January, it came as no real surprise when the six-year-old ran out an easy winner, despite his starting odds of 7-1. He was entered up over the course-and-distance again here, but connections have decided to go for the bigger prize over this half mile longer journey, and Lungo has no fears at all about him staying every yard. In addition, the form of that last win has worked out well, with a couple behind, including the runner-up Craven, franking the form, and if he jumps as quickly and well as he did on his last visit, a follow-up is very much on the cards. High Calibre needs conditions a bit easier, and struggled under a penalty at Wincanton last time so is hard to make a strong case for despite his previous wins in moderate company. Le Seychellois has improved over fences of late, but has not won since 2004 and is another that has shown his best form with a lot more give in the ground. Gastornis needs to brush up his jumping to figure, and so really, Rehearsal should be the master of his own destiny today.
Le Seychellois (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent from 9th, not jumped well from 10th, ridden 13th, rallied 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Lucifer Bleu (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Tighe Caster 12-1 (11-12) Held up last, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 27l behind Avitta (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Rehearsal 7-1 (11-4) In touch, led approaching 4 out, not fluent 3 out, clear last, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m beg chs (4) gd in Jan beating Craven (11-4) by 11l, 11 ran.
Handy Money 9-2 (11-3) Prominent, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, last of 9, 47l behind Pearl King (10-8) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Sky Warrior (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Led until 3rd, led 5th until next, led 9th until headed next, weakening when mistake 13th, 6th of 11, 22l behind Stern (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
High Calibre (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Chased leaders, every chance when mistake 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Rowdy Yeats (10-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Gastornis 16-1 (11-10) Held up, weakened 9th, jumped badly right and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Kercabellec (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
