towards rear, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
held up in touch, headway 8th, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led, headed 5th, soon no chance
towards rear, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
in touch, pushed along and lost place 8th, no danger after
in touch, headway 8th, outpaced after 5 out
always behind
tracked leaders, led 5 out, clear before next, easily
towards rear, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, headway 9th, effort after 5 out, soon outpaced
chased leaders, blundered 8th, soon lost place
towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway to chase leaders 9th, outpaced after 5 out
A poor, wide open but competitive handicap chase with likely contenders being Glenfarclas Boy, Arctic Lagoon and Mikasa with the vote going to the last named. A winner last time out over course and distance Mikasa could be the type to follow up. Only a six year old and with improvement still likely to come the selection is worth siding with again. Glenfarclas Boy ran well enough around here over two miles last time out to give him a live chance again today. He was beaten three lengths by Bobs Buster that day and with this trip likely to suit him better he has to be respected. As does Arctic Lagoon who apart from last time out when disappointing at Mussleburgh had been running well and has a nice racing weight so is worth noting. But for the winner we return to Mikasa.
Lutin du Moulin (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Mistake, stumbled and unseated rider 1st unseated rider in race won by Farington Lodge (10-13) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Looking Forward 25-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 11th, ridden and close 4th when mistake and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Caribbean Cove (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 8 ran.
Moscow Leader (IRE) 11-2co-fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 10th, weakened approaching 13th, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Umbrella Man (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Icy River (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Always behind, weakened from 6th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Alfy Rich (11-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft, 10 ran.
Glenfarclas Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, mistake 4th, not fluent 9th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on to chase winner after last, one pace, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Bob's Buster (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Rifleman (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, outpaced approaching 9th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 8, 33l behind Aleron (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Jan.
Jack Lynch 16-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, 6th of 13, 20l behind Roman Court (11-2) at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jan.
Mr Prickle (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Towards rear, headway 13th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, soon ridden, no impression, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Farington Lodge (10-13) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Nomadic Blaze 14-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 10, 20l behind Flaming Heck (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
Mikasa (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Towards rear, headway 5 out, effort 3 out, led last, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Bob's Buster (12-1) by 3l, 5 ran.
Goodbadindiferent (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Always towards rear, 6th of 10, 50l behind Galero (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Gaucho 8-1 (10-7) In touch, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Flaming Heck (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
True Temper (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Towards rear, out paced 7th, some late headway, never dangerous, 4th of 13, 22l behind Chickapeakray (9-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
Arctic Lagoon (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Led until 2nd, stayed in touch until ridden 11th and gradually weakened, last of 6, well behind Magnificent Seven (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (4) gf in Jan.
Jimmys Duky (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Held up, headway 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 14, 22l behind Almire Du Lia (11-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
