chased leaders, led 7th, cleared 9th, mistake and narrowly headed 2 out, stayed challenging, mistake and led last, hard ridden flat, just held on, all out
raced on inside, chased leaders 3rd, chased winner before 8th to before 3 out, rallied and driven flat, just failed
held up, blundered badly 6th and pulled up after next
held up in touch, effort to chase leaders from 9th, weakened after 3 out
held up, steady headway to track winner and mistake 3 out, mistake and led narrowly 2 out, mistaken and headed last, weakened flat
in touch until weakened after 8th, well behind and struggling when hit 3 out, tailed off
led to after 7th, weakened after next, tailed off
raced wide, tracked leader, weakened quickly before 8th and dropped to rear, rallied approaching 2 out, no danger
in touch until slow jump and drop to rear 4th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up 7th
Tora Bora is nominated as the one to be on, while Northaw Lad, Beare Necessities and Four A Laugh are others to bear in mind when the betting opens. Four A Laugh showed marked improvement on his hurdles debut and shapes as if there is a race within him at some point. He was flattered to finish so close to a comfortable winner on that occasion and has more on his plate today. Beare Necessities has obviously been hard to keep straight over the last couple of seasons and was entitled to have needed the run when he finished a gallant second to the well-backed Grasp on his reappearance at Fontwell last month. Assuming that effort didn't take too much out of him, he will be a leading player here. Northaw Lad was another to catch the eye when returning from a long absence last time and can also be considered as a major threat. He will handle the ground and holds solid place claims at least. However, a chance is taken with Tora Bora, whose second, under a penalty, to Shamayoun sets a fair standard in this company. The ground was bottomless when he failed to sparkle at Exeter 20 days ago, but Tora Bora is much better than that and is given the benefit of the doubt in a race that is likely to run to suit his strengths.
Beare Necessities (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, progress 6th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Grasp (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Four For A Laugh (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 4th, mistake 3 out, ridden next, outpaced, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Fier Normand (11-9) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Mister Completely (IRE) 10-3fav (9-2) Held up towards rear, hard ridden from 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 14, 6l behind Tycheros (8-6) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb (Flat).
Northaw Lad (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Pulled hard in touch, every chance approaching 2 out, ridden last, ran on flat, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Dorneys Well (10-9) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Red Dawn (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Always behind, 8th of 10, well behind Principe Azzurro (11-3) at Warwick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
The Hardy Boy 66-1 (11-0) Prominent until weakened 10th, 6th of 11, well behind Pass Me A Dime (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
Eastern Point 66-1 (10-6) Led to 4th, hit 6th, weakened 8th, 3rd of 9, well behind Colline de Fleurs (10-10) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy.
Tora Bora (GER) 2-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, driven along and lost place 3rd, headway 5th, weakened quickly approaching 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Bak To Bill (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy, 11 ran.
