mistakes, led, headed 3rd, hit 4th, not fluent 6th and 7th, mistake 9th, bad mistake 12th, pulled up before next
in touch on outer, niggled along approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, led 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, ridden before last, no extra run-in
sweated up, chased leaders, hit 8th, mistake 12th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and went clear before last, kept on well flat
held up in last, raced keenly, mistake 7th, hit 10th, nudged along after 4 out, pushed along for effort before 2 out, ridden approaching last where blundered, ran on to grab second flat
Lock's Corner signed off last autumn with a couple of victories over hurdles. He’s already won a point-to-point so there is a very good chance he won’t take long to adapt to fences and he’s unlikely to be far away if fully wound-up. However, LOUGH HAR was just caught by a subsequent winner at Market Rasen four weeks ago when conceding 7lb and deserves to get his head in front. Master Burbidge didn’t get far at Fontwell last week but it was no fault of his own and he had finished third previously at Perth. Twasn't The Plan and Elkstone aren’t out of this either.
Lough Har (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Tracked leader, hit 3rd, led 5th until next, in front again 7th, clear 3 out, hit next and reduced lead, joined and hit last, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, lost on the nod, 2nd of 5, shd behind Arthur's Sixpence (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Master Burbidge 5-1 (11-7) Chased leaders when collided with rival and unseated rider 2nd, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Elkstone 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway before 4 out, driven 3 out, hanging left and beaten next, mistake last, 6th of 7, 7 1/2l behind Yccs Portocervo (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Lock's Corner (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, driven to challenge between last 2, virtually upsides when left clear soon after last, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Waiheke (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Twasn't The Plan (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, struggling approaching 4 out, 6th of 7, 36l behind Destined To Shine (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
