mid-division, slow 4th, not fluent and weakened 4 out, soon well behind, pulled up after
chased leaders, not fluent 1st or 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out until before last, no extra flat
chased winner until after 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway to chase leaders when fell 3 out
made all, clear 2nd, reduced lead 7th, drew clear again flat, stayed on well
towards rear on outside, not fluent 5th, jumped left and pushed along 7th, effort 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders until after 3rd, in touch in mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 2nd and dived at last, no impression on winner flat
Burbank and Alfa Mix are difficult to recommend in this and Shoeshine Boy also looks up against it but the remaining quartet appear closely matched. Castle Rushen found only one too good back over hurdles at Newcastle but SALVINO is back in the right grade and was a close second off this mark over a similar trip at Catterick in November. Grove Road is a thorough stayer but was disappointingly beaten in a match latest and Miss Milano is upped in class after completing a hat-trick at Doncaster last month in which several of the obstacles were omitted.
Alfa Mix 22-1 (11-10) Not fluent on occasion, midfield, pushed along and dropped to rear 10th, lost touch 12th, pulled up before 15th, at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Castle Rushen (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) In rear, not fluent 5th, slow 6th, closed before next, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Miah Grace (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Grove Road (IRE) 8-11fav (12-0) Chased sole rival, not fluent 7th or 9th, not fluent and slow 2 out, soon ridden along, no impression final 100 yards, last of 2, 2 1/4l behind Well Dick (11-9) at Hexham 2m 7f (4) hvy in Mar.
Salvino (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Held up, hit 2nd and briefly ridden on landing, modest headway after last, ridden inside final 110 yards, lost fourth final strides, 5th of 12, 7l behind Les's Legacy (10-12) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Burbank (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) In touch, reminders 10th, outpaced next, pulled up 5 out, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Miss Milano (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Chased leader, not fluent 2nd, 12 lengths down approaching last (usual 4 out), soon ridden, 7 lengths down 4f out, pressed leader 2f out, led entering final furlong, extended advantage close home, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Armchair Farmer (12-0) by 17l, 4 ran.
Shoeshine Boy (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, effort before 2 out, led last, hard pressed, held on well, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Aazza (10-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
