with leader, led 2nd, made rest, 2 lengths clear 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat
held up in touch on inside, reminder when blundered and lost place 9th, struggling 15th, 4th 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, left 2nd 13th, pushed along next, pecked 17th, lost place 4 out, weakened and pulled up before next
led to 2nd, tracked leader until blundered and unseated rider 13th
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, 2 length down and ridden 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure, not reached winner
behind, reminder 8th, soon struggling, 6th and last 4 out, plugged on to go moderate 3rd before last, no chance with leading pair
held up, headway and in touch 13th, chased winner briefly 4 out, outpaced by leading pair next, soon ridden and beaten, lost 3rd before last
A field dominated by some old hands in these northern staying chases and LUCKY NELLERIE gets the vote, while Nelliedonethat and Polobury are others short-listed. The last-named is trained by Harriet Graham, who has her runners going as well as can be expected at present. Her mare has not been in red-hot form herself just lately, but she does stay well and also acts with cut and she has frame claims. Nelliedonethat has a course win to his name and stays this far. He goes on any ground, but just looks to be in the grip of the assessor at the moment. Mage D'Estruval is definitely worth a market check after dropping 7lbs since his latest defeat, giving him his best chance for some time, but we prefer the claims of Lucky Nellerie. Confirmed as a lover of this tricky circuit, he has won over the trip, acts well with cut in the ground, and is back on a winning mark, so we will side with Ferdy Murphy's 11-year-old.
Lucky Nellerie (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Led, joined 13th, ridden 2 out, headed narrowly last, no extra and lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Seize (11-3) at Ayr 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Nelliedonethat (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up, towards rear, pecked 7th, headway to chase leaders in 4th when fell 5 out, in a race won by Fiftyfive Degrees (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Feb, 7 ran.
Mage d'Estruval (FR) 11-1 (10-0) Prominent, pushed along approaching 9th, lost place 5 out, 5th of 8, 33l behind Jimmy Bond (10-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Editors Rose (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 8th, blundered 12th, blundered 14th, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 35l behind Seeking Power (11-0) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Darina's Boy 28-1 (10-5) Close up, led 5th, headed approaching 11th, weakeneing when unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Matmata de Tendron (9-11) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Polobury 8-1 (10-4) Towards rear, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 13l behind Seeking Power (11-0) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Shulmin 50-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 11th, led approaching 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 20l behind Matmata de Tendron (9-11) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
