disputed lead to 3rd, tracked leader, challenged 9th, led 5 out, narrow advantage when pulled up lame before next
tracked leaders, led before 4 out, stayed on well from next, left well clear 2 out, easily
held up in touch, went 2nd 4out, 6 lengths down and no impression when fell 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place 5 out, soon outpaced, left remote 3rd when hampered 3 out, left 2nd with one rival next, no chance with winner
made most to 5 out, left in lead again briefly before next, soon outpaced, 6 lengths down in 3rd when fell 3 out
behind when fell 10th
held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, left 12 lengths down in 3rd when hampered and unseated rider 3 out
Nonrunner
STRIKING ARTICLE has plenty in hand at the weights here and gets the confident vote to outpoint Albanov and John Forbes. The Howard Johnson-trained pick has at least 9lbs in hand on the rest of the field and had it not been for a Sedgefield fall it is a fair bet that he would be chasing a four-timer here after two Wetherby wins either side of that mishap. This trip is his optimum, he goes well when fresh and acts on any ground, so he has plenty going for him. Albanov has been well-placed to win seven times and make the frame a further 15 from 42 career starts. The 10-year-old has had just two starts for Pauline Robson, winning at Kelso before being thrashed at Doncaster last time. There was no obvious reason for that desperate effort, but if he is over it after almost two months off then he is capable of mixing it with the selection. John Forbes is a 70s-rated performer on the level and has the scope for a fair bit of improvement over fences after a win on his debut in this sphere at Catterick. He goes on any ground and may emerge as the leading danger to our nominee. Snowy and Lahib the Fifth are reasonable performers but would both be surprise winners today and preference is for Striking Article.
Striking Article (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct beating Nirvana Swing (10-10) by 8l, 8 ran.
John Forbes 5-1 (11-0) Led to 6th, tracked leaders, led again 8th, headed 3 out, led again narrowly next, headed when mistake last, ridden and rallied to regain lead towards finish, won at Catterick 2m 3f beg chase (4) sft in Jan beating Fortysecond Street (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up, badly hampered 10th and unseated rider, in a race won by Dar Es Salaam (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Yankee Holiday (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, behind when pulled up next, in a race won by Quito Du Tresor (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jan, 12 ran.
Lindseyfield Lodge (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led, clear from 3rd to 6th, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 8l behind Willandrich (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Midnight Star 6-1 (12-5) Led til hdd aft 4; outpcd 15, 2nd of 3, 8l behind Behavingbadly (12-5) at Aspatria 3m ptp gs in May.
Snowy (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Led, fell 6th, in a race won by Nelliedonethat (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Albanov (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, lost place approaching 8th, 11th of 15, well behind Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
