always strugling in rear
tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 4 out until 2 out, kept on
led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened
with leader, led after 4 out, ridden and headed last, kept on, no chance with winner
tracked leading pair, mistake 2nd and 5th, went 2nd 2 out, shaken up to lead last, ran on comfortable
Just the five runners but no less tricky to solve as four have real claims; our preference for LADY AN CO ahead of West With The Wind and Rockiteer is therefore marginal. Paul Nicholls' mare arrived from her native France with a tall reputation having landed a couple of decent contests, so much so that she was sent off 11/4 in a race won by live Arkle candidate Riverside Theatre. Beaten in excess of 30 lengths that day she clearly has plenty to prove, but having been given a break and returning to race on better ground she just looks worth siding with in receipt of the sex allowance. West With The Wind is proving to be much better over jumps than he ever was at the flat game. He's won two starts over the smaller obstacles to gain a rating of 121 but may make an even better chaser judging by a decent second on his sole start over fences. He's a live contender here with conditions set to suit. Rockiteer did as well as could've been expected last time when following home a talented pair from Nicky Henderson's yard. He's another who should improve for this better ground, but we fancy he'll again find at least one too strong. Vasodilator is the fourth with seemingly solid claims, but he was brushed aside all too easily at Leicester and the opposition here may prove to be a class above that, so with Huntingford looking set to be outclassed we'll return to Lady An Co in the hope she restores her reputation.
Huntingford (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, tailed off from 5th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Michel Le Bon (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec '08, 14 ran.
Rockiteer (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in 3rd, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly 6th, lost touch 3 out, 3rd of 4, 41l behind You're The Top (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov stks (3) sft in Feb.
Vasodilator (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Took keen hold, led, pressed throughout, headed 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 2nd of 5, 16l behind Circus Of Dreams (11-0) at Leicester 2m beg chase (4) hvy.
West With The Wind 15-2 (11-2) Towards rear on outside, ridden in 6th after 6th, went 3rd 3 out, no impression, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 9, 37l behind Marodima (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Lady An Co (FR) 11-4 (9-11) Chased leader, led 3rd (water), headed 4 out, hit 3 out, soon no chance with winner, weakened badly run-in, 5th of 6, 32l behind Riverside Theatre (11-0) at Newbury 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Nov.
