raced keenly, in touch, led 9th, mistake and headed 4 out, one pace from next
tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, clear when mistake last, ridden and kept on until no extra and headed near finish
raced keenly in touch, effort 5 out, weakened from next
steaded start and held up in rear, headway after 3 out, kept on from next, never nearer
held up behind, outpaced 5 out, rallied 3 out, ridden and stayed on well flat to lead near finish
held up, headway 4 out, ridden and effort 2 out, chased leader approaching last, no extra flat
prominent, led 4 out, soon hung left, headed before 2 out, no extra when eased quickly flat
led, headed and reminders 9th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
soon lost place and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
An open race with the vote just going to Lindsay ahead of Auntie Kathleen and Emerald Destiny. At first glance at his recent figure one could be forgiven for thinking that Lyndsay is handicapped up to the hilt, given that he has just found a couple too good on recent starts. However he has been running well in some better races and given that he is now 3lbs below his highest winning mark, he should still be competitive today. Emerald Destiny rates the main danger on his recent course and distance win when he came home 10 lengths clear of the rest. However a chunky 12lb rise in the weights surely demands further improvement today. Ryminster and Auntie Kathleen are both fairly consistent but neither wins as often as they should, whilst Pencil House is yet to win a race. Ocarina would be a major threat if his jumping stands the test, however we prefer the more solid option of Lindsay to improve his already decent strike-rate.
Lindsay (FR) 7-2 (11-1) In touch and keen, mistake 12th, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Petitjean (11-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Ocarina (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, headway approaching 5 out, hit next, every chance fell 4 out in race won by Almire Du Lia (11-4) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Auntie Kathleen 4-1jt-fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, mistake 5 out, headway next, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 8, 19l behind Trisons Star (11-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Sands Rising 16-1 (11-1) In rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on from next, 4th of 8, 4l behind Whatcanyasay (9-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf.
Ryminster 5-1 (11-1) Mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders 4 out, led after 2 out, soon ridden, headed and no extra flat, 3rd of 13, 15l behind Skenfrith (10-3) at Kelso 3m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Emerald Destiny (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Held up, in touch, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, clear last, stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd beating Just In Debt (11-12) by 10l, 7 ran.
Pencil House (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 9th, one pace from 4 out, 5th of 15, 21l behind Atouchbetweenacara (11-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Mister Jungle (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 12th, 6th of 9, 38l behind Kalmo Bay (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Silver Dagger 25-1 (9-13) Always behind, 11th of 13, well behind Jim Edwards (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sept.