prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on
jumped right at times, chased leaders, dived at 3rd, lost place before 6th, weakened 3 out, fell last
led until 5th, chased winner until before 2 out, soon weakened
took keen hold and raced wide, prominent, led 5th, clear next, mistake 3 out, ridden out
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, went 3rd next, no impression
held up, headway after 5th, not fluent 8th, lost place next, not fluent and weakened 3 out
NonRunner
Tonto's Spirit has taken really well to fences and bids to follow up last month’s course and distance victory. Dianne Sayer’s charge takes no prisoners but is conceding weight all round. The King Of May beat Smiths Cross at Carlisle last month but the form hasn’t worked out. Joke Dancer and Martila are both interesting making their chasing debuts on decent marks as both are match-fit but ROSE SEA HAS ran well for a long way at Stratford and the French import could also be well treated if first-time blinkers have the desired effect.
Tonto's Spirit 11-8fav (11-12) Led, headed approaching last, ridden to lead again soon after last, ran on gamely, won at Sedgefield 2m (4) sft in Oct beating Nietzsche (11-12) by nk, 4 ran.
Joke Dancer 12-1 (11-9) Keen early, tracked leaders, ridden by omitted 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Chti Balko (11-10) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Nov.
Smiths Cross (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Led narrowly to after 4th, tracked winner, lost place 6th, reminders after 8th, weakened after 5 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before next, at Ayr 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Rose Sea Has (FR) 7-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 23 1/4l behind Rocco (11-1) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Martila (FR) 2-1fav (10-3) Tracked leader, led narrowly 3 out, headed approaching last, ridden and kept on same pace after last, 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind Elvis Mail (11-2) at Ayr 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mountain Hawk (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led, mistakes 3rd and 4th, headed before 2 out, weakened approaching last, last of 4, 27 3/4l behind Romeo Brown (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
The King Of May (FR) 9-4 (11-8) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, soon weakened, modest 3rd, last of 3, 26 3/4l behind Simply The Betts (11-9) at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
