in touch, headway after 6th, narrow leader 7th, ridden 3 out, clear when hit last
keen, soon tracking leaders, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, ridden 8th, plugged on
always in rear
prominent, led after 6th, headed approaching 7th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, headway after 6th, ridden 8th, weakening when fell 3 out
towards rear, soon no impression
towards rear, ridden 8th, stayed on moderately
blundered badly and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 3rd
prominent, mistake 3rd, weakened and behind from 7th
held up mid-division, kept on one pace from 4 out, held when mistake 3 out
always in rear, behind 5th, pulled up after 7th
led, headed and hampered by loose horse approaching 6th, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, held when pecked 3 out
East Lawyer has plenty of weight but may be up to the task over the likes of Julies Boy, Blue Leader and Lorient Express. Paul Nicholls is obviously concentrating on fine-tuning his team for Cheltenham, but his lesser lights should still be followed, and East Lawyer may now start to fulfil his potential. The French import disappointed in three starts over hurdles, but got his act together on his chase debut at Chepstow last week thanks to a clear round of jumping. Granted his task was made easier when his main rival Alphabetic fell two out, but the experience will have done him good, and with the up-and-coming Irishman Colman Sweeney on board, he may well defy a six-pound penalty. Blue Leader ran very well over hurdles at Doncaster and now has just his second start over fences. Previous connections reckoned that he needed strong handling so his current handler has booked Richard Johnson. He should go well along with Julies Boy who is not badly weighted. His stamina won him the day at Hereford last time but this shorter trip will not be entirely in his favour however, and he is passed over. Lorient Express was in good form before Christmas but has gone off the boil of late, and we shall side with East Lawyer.
East Lawyer (FR) 11-4 Held up in touch, went 2nd 5 out, led and left clear 2 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (E) gs in Feb beating Cinnamon Line by 10l, 5 ran.
Lorient Express (FR) 9-2 Prominent and keen, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 9, 36l behind Jericho III at Leicester 2m cnd hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Jan.
Tin Symphony 20-1 Held up, headway to go 3rd approaching 6th, ridden after 9th, weakened after 3 out, 4th and no chance when fell at the last in race won by Dempsey at Ludlow 2m beg chs (E) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Silvergino (IRE) 14-1 Led, headed after 4 out, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 26l behind Thieves'glen at Leicester 2m mdn chs (E) sft in Feb.
Captain Hardy (IRE) 22-1 Mistake, struggling in rear when blundered 9th, stayed on from 3 out, kept on run-in, not reach leaders, 4th of 9, 7l behind Rakassa at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Jan.
Meritocracy (IRE) 50-1 Behind when pulled up at the 7th in race won by She's Our Native at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Julies Boy (IRE) 2-1fav Made all, ridden after 2 out, clear approaching last, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) hvy in Feb beating Brigadier Du Bois by 5l, 8 ran.
