held up last, went modest 4th at 8th, never on terms
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, went left and ridden 7th, jumped slowly and rear next, never able to get on terms after
led until narrowly headed 1st, led again next, briefly headed after 4 out, not fluent and headed 3 out, well held and stayed on same pace from next, lost 2nd closing stages
chased leading pair, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to press for 2nd when hit 3 out, went 2nd closing stages, no chance with winner
led 1st until next, pressed leader, led briefly after 4 out, led 3 out, clear before next, hit last, driven out, (no time taken)
Nonrunner
Course winner Karingreason scored on soft ground at Catterick in December but has hardly raised a gallop in two starts since while Babysitter has been a major disappointment this season. Daldini is well handicapped on his best form but is on a long losing run and his stable has been struggling for winners lately. Sacre Toi and La Pantera Rosa look worth opposing again but a case can be made for SYCHO FRED, even though he is a couple of pounds out of the handicap. The ground is ideal and he's won off similar marks in the past - Mike Sowerby's 11-year-old is probably a bit more reliable than his rivals and gets the nod.
Karingreason 8-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, weakened 4 out, 5th of 10, 33l behind Lucky Landing (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Babysitter (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Tracked winner, not fluent 2nd, lost 2nd after 5th, not fluent next, jumped slowly and lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Arctic Ben (11-5) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Sacre Toi (FR) 50-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, behind 5th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Achimota (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
La Pantera Rosa (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Made most, ridden and headed 12th, chased leader until after after 14th, ridden and struggling in 4th before next, 4th of 6, 39l behind Hopeful Start (11-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 3rd approaching 8th, mistake and weakened 12th, 6th of 10, 33l behind Petroglyph (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Daldini 5-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, jumped slowly and ridden 13th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Fabalu (11-7) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
