in touch to 8th
held up, headway 6th, every chance 2 out, ridden and jumped left last, one pace flat
prominent, ridden after 8th, soon weakened
held up, headway approaching 8th, weakened before next
behind, headway after 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace flat
made all, ridden, edged left approaching 2 out, edged left again flat, ran on
in touch, not fluent 6th, weakened after 8th
prominent, keen, lost place 4th, behind from 6th
Nonrunner
Maljimar, Cannon Fire and Beau Supreme all have chances in the novices' handicap hurdle but we will side with Maljimar on his handicap-debut. The Jim Lewis-owned gelding was the impressive winner of a fast-ground, Fontwell, novices' hurdle last month. He had been off the course for some time before this run having been pulled up at this course last year. He has clearly had his problems as he had been off the course for almost a year. The Henrietta Knight-trained gelding makes his handicap-debut here and it is worth taking the chance that he is well treated in this company. Beau Supreme has won two chases at this course but was only fourth in a novices' hurdle last month. On the basis of that form he would appear to have too much to do giving weight to all his rivals. Another who appears to be a in the handicapper's grip is Cannon Fire. He was last seen when five-lengths behind Mouseski in a Chepstow handicap-hurdle last October. The Evan Williams-trained gelding comes here a fresh horse and his trainer is in good-form at the moment but he faces a stiff task at these weights and our selection remains Maljimar.
Beau Supreme (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, headed 3 out, jumped left final 2, weakened flat, 4th of 10, 13l behind Lyes Green (11-8) at Ludlow 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Dearson (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Set moderate gallop, headed 5th, weakening when fell 3 out in race won by Mr Pointment (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
Wembury Point (IRE) 66-1 (10-1) Prominent until 4th, faded from next, 11th of 13, well behind Herakles (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Maljimar (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, headway going well 2 out, led soon after, in command last, ran on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar beating Mightymuller (10-2) by 4l, 11 ran.
Pseudonym (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, reminder after 6th, headway approaching 3 out, no further progress, 6th of 13, 21l behind Detroit City (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd.
Pure Magic (FR) 15-2 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 15, 50l behind Haloo Baloo (11-0) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Presenter (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Held up rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 16, 18l behind Abraham Smith (10-11) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Castle Frome (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 3rd to 4th, blundered and led again 5th, headed next, fell 7th fell at the 7th in race won by Parkinson (9-10) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Feb, 16 ran.
Cannon Fire (FR) 14-1 (10-12) In touch, headway to track leaders 4th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, one pace appoaching last, 4th of 18, 5l behind Mouseski (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Oct.
