held up, steady headway from 11th, ridden to chase leaders when mistake 4 out, weakening when mistake last
in touch, mistake 5th and 8th, led approaching 4 out, soon ridden and jumped left 3rd, clear approaching last
in touch and keen, lost place 7th, behind from 12th
tracked leader, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leader and keen, lost place 7th, behind from 12th
held up and keen, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, one pace last
Nonrunner
Quirino has been in good form of late and on the evidence of his narrow defeat of the 117-rated Esprit Saint at Towcester in January looks well treated on his handicap debut so gets the vote ahead of Green Finger and Meehan. The last mentioned bounced back to winning ways here last time but a 7lb rise for that success and the drop back in distance makes life harder for him now. In The Frame got no further than the first fence last time and may be best watched, while Free Gift has the ability to take a hand in the finish but may just be a shade high in the weights. Kety Star has disappointed of late and of more interest may be Green Finger who has his first start since October having been waiting for the right ground and comes from an in-form yard. Quirino looks to be well treated though and he is preferred.
Green Finger 3-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, one pace, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Sento (10-13) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Quirino (GER) 2-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair, led briefly 2 out, stayed on well to lead post, won at Towcester 2m 3f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan beating Esprit Saint (11-0) by a hd, 8 ran.
In The Frame (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Badly hampered and unseated rider in race won by Umbrella Man (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Free Gift 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until 13th, soon outpaced, 8th of 11, 25l behind Stern (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Meehan (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leader from 6th, led approaching 4 out, ridden 2 out, ran on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct beating Casadei (10-5) by 1l, 10 ran.
Kety Star (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Hit 2nd, tracked leader to 4th, stayed chasing leaders, weakening when hit 4 out and soon behind, 7th of 8, 49l behind Roznic (11-3) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Silvergino (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Led, headed 3rd, lost place 4th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Chery D'or (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Marked Man (IRE) 28-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway when hit 10th, weakened 3 out, badly hampered 2 out, 5th of 10, 14l behind Liverpool Echo (11-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
