held up in touch, hit 12th and next, soon ridden, outpaced, no impression approaching 2 out
led, headed 4 out, soon outpaced, 4th and beaten when blundered 2 out
tracked leader, led 4 out, drew clear approaching 2 out, pushed out, comfortably
held up in touch, mistake, rider lost iron 12th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, no impression when not fluent next, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
not fluent, soon detached in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
blundered 1st, held up, struggling 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off from 4 out
keen early, soon in touch, lost place 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
It's easy enough to knock the chances of most in this field but Turbo Shandy, Astronomic and River Logic are the likeliest winners to our eye; Chris Grant's runner is preferred. The selection has made the frame just twice in eleven starts but achieved one of those placed efforts last time with a vastly improved chasing performance. He achieved little on his other two chase outings but if he can build on that Catterick run, then he should go close. River Logic also shaped with more promise when second in a four runner race at Huntingdon. He won three times over hurdles and developed into a fair performer in that sphere so a positive reading of his latest run would mark him down as a major player. Astronomic has shown few signs of escaping his downward spiral although his seasonal return did hint that his problems may be behind him. However, he didn't build on that at Wetherby and has been pulled up on both previous outings over fences. The case for him isn't compelling and we'll row in with Turbo Shandy.
Astronomic 14-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 32l behind Overserved (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Persian Prince (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Held up, outpaced 11th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Native Coll (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs (5) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
River Logic (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Led until 6th, chased leaders next, driven to challenge 2 out, soon every chance, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Sunisa (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (4) gd.
Turbo Shandy 20-1 (10-7) Held up, hampered 3rd, headway approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Stagecoach Amber (11-0) at Catterick 2m mdn chs (4) gf.
Just Posh 100-1 (10-0) Always behind, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Jack The Blaster (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Roadworthy (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Mid-division until weakened approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Boris The Blade (11-7) at Ayr 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy, 11 ran.
Toot Tootsie 100-1 (10-4) In rear and mistakes, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Reasonably Sure (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn chs (4) gf, 8 ran.
Verstone (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, weakened after 5th, 9th of 15, well behind Theatre Belle (10-6) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd sll hdl (5) sft in Feb.
