with leaders, blundered 8th, weakened next
led to 4th, challenging when left clear 3 out, driven out
with leader, led 4th, 2 lengths up when fell 3 out
held up in touch, went prominent 6th, left 2nd 3 out, challenged last, no extra run-in
held up in rear, outpaced 6th, stayed on to take moderate 3rd last
Never So Blue is selected ahead of Nirvana Swing and Eborarry. The selection escapes a penalty for his convincing success in a conditional jockey's handicap at Wincanton over 3 miles two where he carried on from where he left off in December. His winning prior to that had been done between 2 miles and 2 miles 5 so there's no problem with dropping back in trip whilst he's three heavy ground wins to his name. Eborarry has also won on heavy and is well handicapped but Nirvana Swing comes into the race in better form and could cause more problems. He gained his first win for Sue Smith when staying on strongly to win at Wetherby over two and a half miles and a 6lb rise shouldn't be enough to stop him from scoring again. He's done most of his racing over further but it would be dangerous to dismiss him as purely a stayer. Salhood could find this ground too testing and looks high enough in the weights so is passed over and we'll come back to Never So Blue for the winner.
Salhood 4-1jt-fav (10-12) Held up, ridden 7th, soon outpaced, never dangerous, 5th of 11, 27l behind Miss Pross (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Nirvana Swing (FR) 11-1 (10-9) In touch, led 7th, hard pressed from 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Jimmy Bond (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Never So Blue (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, soon in command, comfortably, won at Wincanton 3m 1f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan beating Even More (11-0) by 6l, 8 ran.
Eborarry (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Mid-division, reminders after 5th, struggling from 7th, 8th of 11, 31l behind Miss Pross (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Art Virginia (FR) 28-1 (10-5) Prominent, joined leaders 4th, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by The Dark Lord (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 9 ran.