held up in touch, headway to chase leader 4 out, soon hung left, 3 lengths down when left in lead next, ridden 2 out, headed and weakened towards finish
led, driven 4 out, 3 lengths clear when fell next
mistakes, chased leaders until lost place and reminders 6th, struggling halfway, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, remounted to take 3rd
tracked leader, challenged 12th, driven and outpaced 4 out, left 2nd next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to lead towards 6th
Nonrunner
This handicap chase looks to be a trappy affair in which Dead Mans Dante, Lazy But Lively and Farington Lodge are all worthy of consideration with the vote given to the first mentioned. The selection just about sees out this trip and he will certainly handle the testing ground. He was a little disappointing last time at Carlisle but a reproduction of his effort at Sedgefield back in November would make him hard to beat. Lazy But Lively has to be of interest as he is on a very good mark at present. However, the simple fact is that he is not as good over fences as he is over hurdles and for that reason he is narrowly passed over. Farington Lodge is a course and distance winner and he won well last time when beating Celtic Flow. He jumped well that day but he had previously not looked the safest over his fences and that would temper confidence in him today. Nocatee ran no sort of race at Warwick last time and may be best watched at present, and for the winner we will return to Dead Mans Dante.
Dead Mans Dante (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 9th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 9, 15l behind Pass Me By (11-6) at Carlisle 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) sft in Feb.
Farington Lodge (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) In touch, close up from halfway, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Jan beating Celtic Flow (10-0) by 8l, 7 ran.
Nocatee (IRE) 5-1 (10-2) In touch, lost place, reminders approaching 9th, kept on from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 25l behind Chabrimal Minster (11-4) at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (4) sft in Feb.
Lazy But Lively (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway halfway, weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Recent Edition (10-5) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy.
Trisons Star (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) In touch, outpaced from 10th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.