tracked leader, ridden and effort 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, took 2nd towards finish
made most until left in lead 10th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, lost 2nd towards finish
in touch, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon beaten
disputed lead, blundered and unseated rider 10th
behind, lost touch 13th, soon tailed off
always prominent led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat
behind, mistake 9th, lost touch 13th, 6th and tailed off when fell last
Howard Johnson's team have been fairly quiet of late but had a winner over the weekend and it may be that Galero is fit following an absence and is taken to score at the main expense of Ryders Storm and Kid'z'play. The last mentioned has been a grand servant for Jim Goldie over the years and with the yard in good form on the flat of late there is every reason to believe that the 10-year-old could bounce back to form. Classic Capers was out of his depth at Cheltenham last month but seems to be too high in the weights anyway, while Briery Fox was similarly well held at the Festival and may struggle to give weight away all round. Ryders Storm has a nice racing weight but has gone up 8lbs for landing a weak beginners' chase at Warwick last time and this looks tougher. The general form of Howard Johnson's horses has to be of concern but Galero looks to still be on a fair mark and the break may have done him good.
Briery Fox (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakened 13th, blundered next, 13th of 21, 33l behind You're Special (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Kid'z'play (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 2nd, close up when fell at the 6th in race won by Little Big Horse (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar, 5 ran.
Classic Capers 50-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along after 11th, weakened after next, 16th of 21, well behind Dun Doire (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Galero 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on well under pressure flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jan beating Not A Trace (10-4) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Goodbadindiferent (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Mr Prickle (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Ryders Storm (USA) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 14th, headed approaching 15th, led 2 out, soon clear, won at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd beating Blue Americo (11-2) by 16l, 9 ran.
Political Cruise 25-1 (10-9) Behind, headway after 4 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Lucky Duck (10-13) at Carlisle 2m beg chs (4) sft.
