tracked leader, ridden 3 out, hit last, soon weakened
prominent, lost place from 10th
held up and raced wide, mistake 1st, weakened approaching 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
made all, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon clear, just held on
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, not fluent 8th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
always behind, hampered and rider lost iron 1st, hit next, never dangerous
held up in touch, mistake 9th, soon lost place
held up, headway 10th, chased leaders 5 out, weakened approaching next
held up in touch, hit 10th, reminders next, ridden 3 out, hit last, soon weakened
held up, jumped left 1st, outpaced 6 out, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on from last, just held
There are plenty in with chances in the novices' handicap chase but Winsley gets our vote. Shining Strand, Stavordale Lad and Harris Bay all have chances. The Oliver Sherwood-trained selection has been running well in handicap company recently and was a good third at Ludlow last time out behind Bob The Builder. He was rated the best of these over hurdles and, with the trip and ground in his favour, he will take all the beating. Shining Strand runs in the colours of the Queen and he is clearly a quirky character. He was a good second over this course and distance earlier this month but the handicapper is clearly taking no chances and he looks to have too much to do off topweight. Of the others, Harris Bay is clearly a progressive sort but he has gone up 17lbs for his recent Leicester win and he may struggle off this mark. Stavordale Lad should run his race but may not have the speed to compete with these. He was the easy winner of a poor Leicester maiden and was second in a Taunton handicap chase last time out, the third-placed horse Wild Oats was a winner on Tuesday and he is not without his chances. However, our selection remains as Winsley.
Shining Strand 4-1fav (11-12) Led, clear before 7th, ridden 2 out, jumped left last, headed early flat, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Von Origny (11-0) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Winsley 7-2 (11-4) Behind, headway 13th, ridden after 4 out, ran on flat, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Bob The Builder (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Feb.
Harris Bay 9-2 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place approaching 6th, headway 14th, ridden after 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb beating Dungarvans Choice (11-12) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Stavordale Lad (IRE) 11-2fav (11-9) Led 3rd, jumped left throughout, hard ridden after 3 out, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Even More (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
In Contrast (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Behind, headway approaching 6th, lost touch after 9th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Nyrche (11-9) at Wincanton 2m nov chs (C) gd in Nov, 5 ran.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led 4th, not fluent 6th, headed 11th, weakened from 2 out, hit last, 4th of 8, 24l behind Rubberdubber (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Ryders Storm (USA) 5-1 (10-12) In touch, not fluent 7th, well behind 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went poor 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 21l behind Rubberdubber (11-12) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Nawow 13-8fav (10-12) Held up, dismounted when pulled up at the 3rd in race won by Master T (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (E) gf in Jun, 9 ran.
Supreme Tadgh (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden and effort 4 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Party Games (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Beauchamp Prince (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Always in touch, mistake 2nd, led 4 out, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) hvy beating Royal Scandal (11-1) by 14l, 6 ran.
