chased leaders, reminders 9th, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching 2 out, kept on well
chased leaders until lost place 7th, tailed when pulled up before 3 out
led after 1st, hit 2nd, headed 7th, led again after 10th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, left 3rd and blundered last
held up, headway 4 out, five lengths down in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider last
mid-division, outpaced 10th
led to 1st, hit 5th, led again 7th, headed after 10th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
held up, headway halfway, outpaced 4 out
Unexplored failed to complete in two starts over hurdles and showed that he is not the most natural of chasers when unseating his jockey on his chase debut at Catterick last month but Howard Johnson's gelding has the best form of the runners here and may be worth another chance with the main threats, apart from the fences, being Hidden Legend and Arctic Ghost. The last mentioned, a bumper winner on fast ground, last term has been sent over fences quickly in his career but probably needs to improve on all known form to trouble the judge. Nomadic Blaze is moderate at best, while Smart Thinker has given little cause for optimism so far. Jeringa ran better last time but may do better on a faster surface and of more interest may be the lightly raced Hidden Legend. Unexplored looked a decent recruit until jumping problems came to light over hurdles and, in the hope that he does not allow the fences to trouble him too much here, Howard Johnson's gelding gets the vote to gain an overdue success.
Arctic Ghost 13-2 (11-5) Led to 5 out, weakened when hit 3 out, 4th of 6, 30l behind Himalayan Trail (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Hidden Legend (IRE) (12-0) Close up, effort from 2 out, led close home, won at Naul 3m ire ptp sft in Feb beating Declan's Lad (12-0) by a nk, 17 ran.
Jeringa 12-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 24l behind Top Cloud (10-9) at Sedgefield 3m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Nomadic Blaze 9-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chased clear pair approaching 4 out, chased leader next until last, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 12l behind Young Smokey (11-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs (5) sft in Jan.
Old Noddy (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Chased leader, left in lead 13th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, well behind Canada Street (11-4) at Kelso 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Feb.
Unexplored (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 12th, in 3rd but one pace when mistake and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Swift Thyne (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) hvy in Feb, 11 ran.
Lady Lambrini 16-1 (10-5) Held up, in touch, chased leader 3rd until 8th, jumped slowly next, weakened 11th, tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Fullards (11-3) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gd.
Smart Thinker 80-1 (9-9) Held up, headway 8th, outpaced 10th, behind when slipped up 2 out in race won by Top Cloud (11-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb, 15 ran.
