led, not fluent 3rd, headed 4th, chased leaders, reminders after 8th, pushed along 10th, outpaced approaching 4 out, no impression
in rear, hit 1st, headway to lead 4th, hit 9th, headed next, remained close up, every chance 4 out, one pace from 2 out
tracked leader, led 10th, not fluent 5 out, pushed along next, clear approaching 2 out
tracked leaders in 4th when fell 5th
Nonrunner
Keith Reveley's Its Teescomponents won his third race of the season when successful over course and distance on his most recent start in January and he has every chance of following up racing off an 8lb higher mark but he has not as yet shown that he handles ground as testing as this and a better bet looks to be BORIS THE BLADE, who gets the vote with Seeking Power rated the pick of the remainder. The selection appreciated the drop in the weights when successful at Haydock when last seen in January, staying on well when beating Supreme Keano by six lengths on heavy ground, and he has solid claims of following up off a mark now 9lbs higher in a race that looks no stronger and where several have doubts over the ground. Don McCain's Scottish Munros has been well beaten on similar going in his last three starts but may do better now running in a handicap for the first time, while Blazing Diva showed when successful here last month that she handles testing ground well enough but a 6lb rise for that win may see her struggle to follow up. Seeking Power won well enough on the soft at Kelso last month and he cannot be discounted on the heavy ground today but Boris The Blade may still be ahead of the handicapper and is preferred.
Boris The Blade 11-1 (10-4) Chased leader, left 2nd 9th, reminders after next, ridden after 13th, led before 4 out, clear last, driven out, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan beating Supreme Keano (10-11) by 6l, 9 ran.
Its Teescomponents (IRE) 3-1fav (10-1) Tracked leader, led 3rd, made rest, ridden between last 2, stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Sammy Spiderman (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) Prominent, pressed leader from 4th, upsides when left in lead 3 out, edged right approaching last, stayed on, ridden out, won at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb beating Treehouse (10-1) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Scottish Munros 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along and lost place after 3rd, weakened after 7th, well behind next, tailed off, 7th of 13, well behind Watamu Bay (11-4) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Seeking Power (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 15th, headway to chase leaders after 5 out, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, won at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb beating Reckless Venture (11-3) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
