always behind
led, headed when fell 5th
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out
mid-division, hit 2nd, headway approaching 5th, ridden to lead last, ridden out
held up, weakened from 4th, tailed off
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on from last
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, reminders after 3rd, lost place after next
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 5th, weakened from next
towards rear, headway 5th, weakened after next
prominent, led after 3 out, ridden and headed last, one pace
prominent, weakened from 3 out
held up, driven after 3rd, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, led approaching 5th, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, weakened quickly approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Before The Mast gets the vote in a tricky affair, with Theatre Tinka, Protocol and Heversham seen as just a few main dangers. Before The Mast has been pretty consistent this term, winning three times in all, including over the course-and-distance on Boxing Day. That was only a selling handicap, but since then he has gone on to win over fences and acquitted himself really well back over timber when third in a Class 4 contest at Taunton. Therefore he is entitled to go close in today's company, with nothing else really standing out. Theatre Tinka has been absent since December but was slowly improving before his break, while Protocol has won round here before but there surely cannot be more to come from him at the age of 12. Heversham has a bit of scope but looks a shade high in the weights at present, and unless the market speaks favourably for any of the others, notably Good Investment and Akram, we prefer to side with Before The Mast.
Inch High 100-1 (11-2) Prominent, weakened from 5th, 7th of 13, 20l behind Nerone (11-2) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Wardash (GER) 40-1 (11-3) With leader, jumped slow 4th, ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 11, 21l behind Misbehaviour (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Heversham (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 8, well behind Boris The Spider (11-7) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Theatre Tinka (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Held up, headway approaching 5th, led before 3 out, headed approaching next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 10l behind Gustavo (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Dec.
Dormy Two (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Spectested (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Before The Mast (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up, headway after 3 out, stayed on from next, nearest finish, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Picot de Say (10-1) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs.
African Sunset (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 5th of 15, 14l behind Magic Box (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl (G) gf in Jul '04.
Good Investment 8-1 (9-6) Held up, effort 4 out, never on terms, 10th of 12, well behind Front Rank (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Penalty Clause (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 14, well behind Jacarado (10-7) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) sft in Feb.
Teutonic (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Raced keenly, in touch, headway when mistake 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 24l behind According To Pete (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Fixateur 25-1 (11-2) Mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Sole Agent (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Protocol (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led, headed after 5th, outpaced after next, kept on under pressure from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ethan Snowflake (11-7) at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Minstrel's Double 40-1 (9-9) Mistakes in mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened after next, 11th of 14, 38l behind Mr Bigglesworth (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in May.
Munaawesh (USA) 8-1 (10-4) In touch, blundered 7th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Merryvale Man (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs, 18 ran.
Akram (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Disputed lead until weakened quickly after 6th, 5th of 9, 30l behind White On Black (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Emerald Destiny (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 17, 8l behind Silver Seeker (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Feb.
