held up, never troubled leaders
started slowly, tailed off and pulled up 8th
mid-division, ridden 5 out, weakened next, pulled up 2 out
in rear, headway 4 out, blundered badly next, one pace soon after
tracked leaders, blundered 9th, soon driven and weakened
tracked leader, led 3 out, driven and stayed on well from last
tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, led 10th, headed 3 out, every chance last, not quicken towards finish
led, blundered 9th, headed next, behind when pulled up before last
held up, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
in rear, ridden 7th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, no danger after
PARADISE EXPECTED is in great form at present and is taken to win again now switched back to fences and with confidence high. Tim Vaughan's gelding was the comfortable winner of a Stratford handicap hurdle last week and races from the same mark here. The drop back in trip should not be a major problem given that the cut in the ground will bring his stamina into play and he can go in again. Toulouse Express loves to get his toe in and steps up in trip here after finding one too good on each of his last three starts. His stamina is questionable and he is opposed again. Supreme Leisure will enjoy conditions but is inconsistent and has a bit to prove after a poor Leicester run. Lucy Wadham has her string in form and that is promising news for fans of Diarius, who is tongue-strapped for the first time here and improvement would not be unexpected. The rest of them look a poor bunch and Paradise Expected is the one for us.
Illogical Hope (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Held up and unseated rider in race won by Or d'Oudairies (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Diarius (GER) 10-1 (11-10) Hit 6th, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Gallileo Figaro (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 20 ran.
Knock Boy (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) In touch, raced keenly, weakened 2 out, 6th of 12, 17l behind Laharna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec.
Island Key (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 15, 20l behind Super Baby (11-4) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Jan.
Something Gold (FR) 8-1 (11-8) In touch, ridden approaching 8th, weakened approaching 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Quillygham (11-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb, 16 ran.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Chased winner throughout, no chance from 4 out, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Storm Surge (10-6) at Ayr 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
