chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, kept on from last, edged right flat, always held
led, headed approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, not quicken
keen and soon tracking leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leader, hit 4 out, led approaching 2 out, driven out
held up, hit 4th, chased leaders 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, weakened from 6th
Whisky Magic has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated since opening his account over hurdles at the first time of asking over course and distance on soft ground in November and, despite running better at Catterick last time, Howard Johnson's gelding looks best watched in a race taken to go to SPRINGFIELD RAKI, who is preferred to Ashburton Lad. The last mentioned makes his debut for Neil King today having shown decent form in point-to-points in Ireland prior to opening his account under rules when making a winning debut in a maiden hurdle at Navan. He has to be respected and makes more appeal than Mick Easterby's Lough Inchiquinn, who showed promise in three starts in bumpers but faces a difficult task on his debut over timber. Three Boars is capable on the flat but is going over hurdles rather late in his career at the age of seven and a safer option looks to be Springfield Raki. The five-year-old showed a decent level of form in bumpers and has run well in his last two starts over hurdles, looking unlucky when brought down two out here last time and he can make amends for that today.
Ashburton Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway to 3rd before 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, strongly pressed last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Navan 2m mdn hdl sft in Feb beating Archiestown (11-12) by 2l, 27 ran.
Whisky Magic (FR) 2-1fav (11-5) Led and raced keen, headed 3rd, left in lead next, headed approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-3) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Laybach (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Held up and keen, never dangerous, 5th of 8, well behind Monterrico (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Springfield Raki 6-5fav (10-8) Tracked leader and keen, ridden 3 out, in 3rd and staying on when brought down 2 out, in a race won by Monterrico (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 8 ran.
Three Boars 20-1 (10-7) Held up, hampered 5th, never dangerous, 9th of 14, well behind Whirling (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Sep '05.
Endwell Lady (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 9th, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 27l behind Key Cutter (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Lough Inchiquinn 4-1fav (10-4) Held up, ridden over 6f out, soon headway, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 15, 24l behind Jubilee Queen (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f cond & am NH flat (5) gs in Feb.
