chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, keen , weakened after 3 out
in rear, headway 4th, ridden, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders until 3 out
held up, headway 5th, ridden 2 out, led flat, kept on well
always behind
in touch, joined leaders 4th, hit next, in 5th, staying on when blundered last, took 2nd close home
chased leaders, fell 3rd
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, one pace from last
in rear, badly hampered 3rd, ridden, no impression from 3 out
chased leader, led 4th, ridden 2 out, headed flat, no extra when lost 2nd close home
led, headed 4th, soon behind
towards rear, hampered 3rd, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, hampered 3rd, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened after 3 out
A real headscratcher for punters and Nortonthorpe Lad is taken to have the answers to this puzzle with Olivair, Only Words and Diamond Vein the others to make appeal. Nortonthorpe Lad has taken a while to come to hand but there was a fair amount of confidence behind him at Newcastle last time out and compensation can await. Olivair is here on the back of a recent success at 100/1; the price will be shorter this time around. Only Word's recent form looked modest but Bright Sparky gave it a boost on Saturday when placing at Newcastle. Diamond Vein was behind on that day but had won well in selling grade. Shamrock Bay's better form has been demonstrated on faster ground and she may need this after an absence. Makandy is yet to visit the winners' enclosure but could be reliable enough to hit the places. Kingdom Of Dreams makes a welcome drop in grade whilst Flower Haven has a disappointing recent effort to overcome if she is to be competitive on this occasion. Nortonthorpe Lad looks to have all the ticks in the right boxes and secures the nod.
Flower Haven 12-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Dance The Mambo (11-12) at Catterick 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Kingdom of Dreams (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders,ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 18, 30l behind Buster Hyvonen (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Only Words (USA) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place and reminders 5th, ridden and headway 3 out, led before next, held after last, no extra, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Bright Sparky (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Diamond Vein 10-1 (11-11) Led, headed 6th, soon lost place, tailed off 2 out, 8th of 11, well behind Bright Sparky (11-6) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Bollitree Bob 11-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, ridden and headway 4th out, 4th and held when unseated rider at the last in race won by Femme D'avril (10-12) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Top Dressing (11-2) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Shamrock Bay 2-1fav (10-13) Behind, not fluent 2nd and 4th, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 27l behind Love Angel (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Hamburg Springer (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent until after 6th, 10th of 14, well behind Parsley's Return (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov sll hdl (G) gd in Dec '05.
Makandy 16-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 3 out, 5th when hit next, ridden and kept on, no impression, 3rd of 19, 23l behind Nike Walker (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Finnegans Rainbow 13-2 (10-12) In touch, joined winner 6th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, 31l behind Murphys Million (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Bill Brown 33-1 (10-6) Pulled hard in touch, lost place after 5th, 15th of 20, well behind Final Bid (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Phoenix Eye 50-1 (11-11) Led, headed 5th, soon lost place, 14th of 19, well behind Nike Walker (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Un Autre Espere 13-2 (9-7) Led 2nd until 4th, mistake 9th, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 42l behind Ground Breaker (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Olivair (IRE) 100-1 (9-12) Led to 1st, tracked leader, hit 2nd, left in lead 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, led again last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Player (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Changiz 14-1 (10-9) Held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 18, well behind Wild Tonto (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Celtic Romance 18-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, every chance after 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 16, 8l behind Mount Benger (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Laconicos (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 19, 43l behind Nike Walker (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Obara d'Avril (FR) 18-1 (10-9) In touch, effort approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, 40l behind Cha Cha Cha Dancer (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Peak Seasons (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Always behind, 15th of 19, well behind Nike Walker (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Point of Origin (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) pulled up at the 14th in race won by Pelican Brief (11-0) at Higham 3m ptp frm in Feb '06, 5 ran.
