held up in rear, off the pace, chased winner from 14th, ridden to close approaching last, every chance when readily held flat
made all, clear from 5th, ridden after 3 out, pressed last, driven to assert flat
chased winner, lost 2nd 14th, soon weakened, tailed off 3 out
held up in 5th, went 3rd at 14th, ridden, still disputing 2nd 2 out, weakened between last 2
jumped right, chased leaders in 3rd, blundered 7th, weakened 14th, tailed off
raced in 4th, lost place, dropped to rear 9th, tailed off when pulled up after 13th
Mooresini should take all the beating if reproducing his run when runner-up last time out and gets the vote here, with Star Glow and Jim Lad looking the best of the remainder. Nick Gifford's seven-year-old appreciated the step up in trip last time out when tried in blinkers for the first time and a repeat of that effort could be good enough to see him get his head in front today. With ground ideal, he gets the nomination. Star Glow would be a factor if able to forget his disappointing run at Folkestone last month, and as a true stayer the old-timer would be a threat if back on song. Hurlers Cross is a course and distance winner so cannot be discarded lightly off a mark 8lbs below his highest winning one, although his best runs have come on good ground so for that reason he is opposed. Jim Lad disappointed last time out and would need to bounce back, whilst Malmo Boy needed his recent reappearance run and should strip fitter today. Ultimately this looks fairly uncompetitive, and we will happily side with Mooresini to get his head in front.
Star Glow 7-1 (11-5) Behind from 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Phareight Dei (10-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Mooresini (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led after 9th to 14th, regained lead 3 out, jumped left and joined 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Alfa Sunrise (10-8) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy in Feb.
Malmo Boy (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 10th, reminders next, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Phareight Dei (10-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Deltic Arrow 20-1 (11-11) Led to 6th, chased leaders, blundered and weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Alfa Sunrise (10-8) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Hurlers Cross (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Led to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, 6th and no chance when mistake and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Tradingup (10-3) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp chs (5) hvy in Nov, 11 ran.
Jim Lad 3-1fav (10-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 13th, 5th of 8, well behind Phareight Dei (10-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb.
Pirandello Due 25-1 (9-9) In rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Alfa Sunrise (10-8) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
