swerved left start, made all, ridden approaching 3 out, hit last, driven to assert flat, stayed on
mostly chased winner throughout, hit 2nd and 5th, every chance when mistake last, edged left and not quicken flat
chased leaders, closed to challenge 3 out until mistake 2 out, soon hung right, no extra flat
chased leaders to 4th, lost touch after next, tailed off
MARODIMA is easily the best horse in this claiming hurdle and with terms in his favour he should take all the beating leaving Blacktoft and Slip the most likely to fill second and third. Not the force he once was the pick still has ability as shown by his back-to-back wins in February including off a mark of 152. He was a little outgunned at Cheltenham last time but in this company he should be able to dominate and it will be hard to reel him in. Blacktoft isn't completely weighted out of things but was well held in a similar event last time so is overlooked here. Slip has even more to find on these terms but Tim Vaughan's runner is unexposed in this sphere and has shown some ability so he could improve. The remaining pair have a mountain to climb at the weights so this looks an ideal opportunity for Marodima to score again.
Marodima (FR) 40-1 (11-3) Led and clear to 5th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 19th of 28, 33l behind Thousand Stars (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Blacktoft (USA) 13-2 (12-0) Led until 1st, pressed leader until led narrowly 4th, headed 3 out, no extra and eased flat, 2nd of 11, 13l behind Bundle Up (10-9) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Rapide Plaisir (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Always in rear, tailed off approaching 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Jordan's Light (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Roisin's Prince (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Led until mistake 3 out, weakening when not fluent next, 7th of 10, 16l behind Sawpit Supreme (10-9) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Slip 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, jumped badly right 1st, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Black Jack Blues (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
