jumped left and not fluent, held up in 4th, went 3rd approaching 8th until next, last when slithered on landing 10th and nearly unseated rider, great recovery, soon weakened
jumped well, led, ridden after 3 out, headed flat, no extra final 75 yards
took keen hold, tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, led flat, stayed on well
raced in 3rd until approaching 8th and again from 9th, pushed along from 12th, no impression, weakened approaching 2 out
All of these look progressive to a degree and SOUND STAGE is given the tentative vote ahead of King Jack and Buffalo Bob. The selection is one of the more consistent runners in the race and he has really taken well to fences over the past year. He has shown a tendency to idle when he hits the front and therefore he may still be capable of winning off this current mark of 119 so with more improvement to come he gets the nod. King Jack was pulled-up on his two starts prior to winning at Huntingdon last month and only time will tell whether he can build on that. If he can, then a 5lb higher mark should be no barrier. Pipo De Re was a little unfortunate to bump into a well-ridden stayer in the form of Noakarad De Verzee last time and the drop in trip should suit, whilst Buffalo Bob looks a player. He was a wide margin winner at Uttoxeter last time out but as a result he has been put up 15lb in the weights. He has plenty to find with the selection on their run behind Afistfullofpebbles however and on worse terms he is hard to prefer. Lupanar made several jumping errors when second to Song Sung Blue at Plumpton, and whilst he looks well-treated compared to his hurdling mark, the feeling is that the Plumpton form looks weak (winner normally finishes second) and he is opposed. The vote, then, goes to Sound Stage.
Lupanar (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place and blundered 5th, chased winner from 3 out, every chance from next, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 3, nk behind Song Sung Blue (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 3rd, led 4th, clear of rest after 10th, drew further ahead approaching 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb beating Michigan d'Isop (11-4) by 27l, 10 ran.
Sound Stage 10-3fav (11-7) Held up, chased leaders after 5 out, every chance last, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Pipo De Re (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Always prominent, chased winner 11th, ridden approaching last, no impression flat, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Noakarad De Verzee (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
King Jack 14-1 (11-12) In touch, challenging when left in lead 5th, headed 8th, led after next until 2 out, regained lead after omitted last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb beating Mr Newton (10-12) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
