chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, ridden and hung left from next, kept on same pace from 3 out
in rear but in touch, chased leader 12th, hit next, soon outpaced, behind when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, outpaced when hit 12th, disputed 3rd when mistake 4 out, weakened after 2 out
chased winner, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace under pressure from next, no chance with winner
A chance is taken with Mandingo Chief, who is expected to have benefited from his seasonal reappearance and gets the nod over Dalus Park and Only Once, who are expected to give the selection the most to do. The latter faces no easy task at the weights though and this drop in trip might not be absolutely ideal for him. That said, he has some experience of the course and, as his yard have been firing in the winners this week, he cannot be confidently ruled out. Neither can Dalus park, who is a dour stayer that ran somewhere near his best last time. However, he has been held off this sort of mark in the past and could be vulnerable to a more determined type. Which is where Mandingo Chief comes in. He made a very pleasing debut over fences when chasing home the useful I Hear Thunder at Folkestone last month. That run will have taught him a lot and he can go one better today on a track that will suit this big-striding galloper.
Only Once 10-1 In touch, led and jumped left from 5 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Supreme Breeze at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
Aelred 16-1 Led, headed 5th, chased leaders, ridden and no impression when edged left approaching last, 4th of 7, 12l behind Dark Ben at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 5-1 Held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway under pressure after 3 out, stayed on to take moderate 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 9l behind I Hear Thunder at Folkestone 2m 5f beg chs (E) gs in Feb.
Dalus Park (IRE) 7-1 Held up, headway 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Stand Easy at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) sft.
On The Luce 9-1 Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Supreme Breeze at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs, 10 ran.