held up, ridden 3 out, never troubled leaders
mid-divisions, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden 2 out, kept on to go 2nd after last, no impression
raced keenly, led 1st, made rest, ridden 2 out, stayed on well
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and one pace from next
in touch, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
led to 1st, chased winner until driven and lost place before 3rd, soon behind
in touch, tracked winner before 3rd, challenged 3 out, ridden and every chance next, no extra approaching last
Neptune Joly hit winning form last time out and can follow up in this weak handficap, Zeitgeist and Flake should provide most danger. Ferdy Murphy has his string in great form and Neptune Joly, who landed a decent looking novice event last time looks set to add to the trainers tally. That success came on similar ground at Sedgefield where he beat William John a shade comfortably. The 100 rated Le Rouge Fatal was well beaten off and so a mark of 104 looks very fair for our selection. Incredibly Zeitgeist is almost on the same flat mark over hurdles and one of these days everything will fall into place and his class will tell. However he is too risky a proposition to warrant our selection this afternoon. Flake meanwhile has been a revelation this season winning three on the spin. He ran no sort of race at Haydock last time but if that was just a blip he should play a major role in this contest. Top weight Turbo is capable on his day and looks the best of the remainder, but Neptune Joly looks a progressive type and he gets our vote.
Turbo (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Held up, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 7, 19l behind Through The Rye (11-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Zeitgeist (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Always behind, 8th of 11, well behind Camden Bella (9-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Culcabock (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching last, 7th of 16, 13l behind Pee Jay's Dream (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Flake 7-2 (9-7) Prominent, led from 3rd to 4th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, last of 5, 41l behind Regal Heights (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Neptune Joly (FR) 15-2 (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, 5 lengths 3rd last, stayed on to lead near finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating William John (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Planters Punch (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leader to 3rd, blundered 4th, tailed off when refused 4 out, continued, 3rd of 5, well behind Pearl King (10-7) at Leicester 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Wenlocks Wonder 20-1 (11-8) Behind, headway approaching 2 out, never on terms, 8th of 20, 31l behind Final Bid (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Armentieres 10-1 (10-2) Behind, lost touch 4th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Never So Blue (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Stormy Beech 12-1 (10-13) Leading when ran out 5 out in race won by Marshall Hall (10-0) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
