made all, jumped left from 6th, pressed from 4 out until 2 out, ran on
jumped left, always behind, lost touch from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 6th, reminders before next, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 4 out
raced keenly, mid-division, headway 5th, every chance from 4 out, hit last, no extra
in touch, chased leading pair approaching 4 out, not fluent 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders until 5th, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased winner, hit 2nd, weakened 4 out
held up, weakened after 9th
behind, blundered 2nd, lost touch after 6th, no chance when mistake 9th
Cossack Dancer, Predicament, Spinaround and Hardybuck all come here with chances, and we will side with Cossack Dancer. This beginners' chase looks the ideal opportunity for the Mark Bradstock-trained eight-year-old to get off the mark over fences. He was a course-and-distance winner here over hurdles and has run with credit over the larger obstacles, most notably when two and a half lengths behind ex-Champion-hurdler Hors La Loi III at Taunton last December. Of the others, Hardybuck represents the Nigel-Twiston-Davies yard. He had looked a promising recruit to the stable but has been disappointing of late and unseated his rider in a recent maiden chase at Leicester. Spinaround has performed with credit recently but has looked as though he would benefit from a longer trip. Predicament runs in the Sir Robert Ogden colours and AP McCoy is in the saddle; he has a chance of sorts but would have to improve significantly to challenge our selection, Cossack Dancer.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Led, ridden approaching last, hung left and headed close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Calatagan (10-11) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) gd in Jan.
Let's Rock 66-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, 11th of 13, 44l behind Wild Power (10-7) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Predicament 40-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 14, 33l behind Desert Quest (11-7) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Spinaround 4-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 6th, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 16, 13l behind Parkinson (9-10) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
The Glen Road (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 7th to next, ridden after 4 out, left chasing winner 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 8, 17l behind Cornish Rebel (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f beg chs (E) gs in Oct '04.
Hardybuck (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Chased winner until blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Sargasso Sea (11-5) at Leicester 2m mdn chs (4) hvy, 4 ran.
Lincoln Leader (IRE) 18-1 (10-6) In touch, hit 9th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Martha's Kinsman (11-4) at Ludlow 3m beg chs (4) gf in Feb, 12 ran.
Kercabellec (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 5, well behind The Local (11-0) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) sft in Feb.