always rear
held up in rear, steady headway from 10th, led 3 out, soon in command, comfortably
made most, headed 4 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, ridden before 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, led 4 out to 3 out, chased winner to 2 out, one pace before last
held up, stayed on under pressure before 2 out, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, weakened after next, no chance when blundered last
in touch, ridden to chase winner before 2 out, no impression and lost 2nd flat
in touch to 5th, well behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
pressed leader to 10th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Celtic Ruffian is a tentative choice in the final race on the card, with Arctic Glow, Wave Back and Unusual Suspect just three more to consider. None of these have leading claims exactly, but something has to win it, and Celtic Ruffian is put up in the hope that he has fully recovered from his latest mishap at Folkestone. Richard Rowe's charge was never going well and was pulled up, but it later transpired that he had broken a blood vessel. Prior to that he had chased home the odds-on Tanterari here despite being 10lb out of the handicap. A repeat of that run should see him go very close indeed with nothing of Tanterari's calibre in opposition this time. Wave Back disappointed badly at Catterick considering the way he had forged clear to score at Folkestone the time before, while Unusual Suspect may improve for the step up in trip but is still a maiden. Geography was receiving lumps of weight when scraping home from Pardishar here in February and has it to do today, but at least he has winning form to his name. Celtic Ruffian is no good thing, but that run the time before last puts him bang in the frame.
Geography (IRE) 10-1 Held up rear, behind, some progress 8th, no further impression, 10th of 14, 24l behind Tell The Trees at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gs in Feb.
Unusual Suspect 7-1 Held up, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, kept on flat, 5th of 15, 13l behind Party Games at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (E) gd in Jan.
Double Agent 10-1 Prominent, led 6th until next, ridden and weakened approaching 8th, soon tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind At The Double at Fontwell 2m 6f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gs.
Watchful Witness 22-1 Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden 9th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 13, 27l behind Turaath at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd.
Wave Back (IRE) 11-1 Mid-division, mistake and lost place 6th, soon behind, 11th of 15, well behind Pebble Bay at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs.
Arctic Glow 5-1fav Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 16, 9l behind Sword Lady at Taunton 3m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Feb.
Celtic Ruffian (IRE) 8-1 Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Myson at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (F) gs in Jan, 15 ran.
Sadler's Lamp (IRE) 40-1 In touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 15, 36l behind Star Angler at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Feb.
