led, hit 1st and 2nd, headed, mistake 3rd, remained prominent until lost action, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, headway 11th, challenged 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead flat, driven out
in touch until weakened after 12th, tailed off
prominent, led 8th, ridden after 4 out, headed flat, just held on for 2nd
chased leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off
in touch until lost place 4th, reminders after 10th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders until lost place after 10th, soon ridden, went 4th approaching 4 out, no further impression from 3 out
led 4th until 8th, with leader, weakened 12th, tailed off
held up, headway 10th, effort after 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, just failed to get 2nd
NIGHT SAFE can land the money by repelling the challenges of Cava Bien and Manly Money. Cava Bien is unbeaten in two starts for Tim Vaughan and is unlikely to lack for fitness; he made the frame in two of his three chase starts for his previous connections and merits respect. Manly Money is another returning from an absence but his trainer has done well with similar sorts in recent months and this fellow is on a fair enough mark if anywhere near his best. There are some capable enough performers from amongst the remainder but Night Safe stands out as the one runner in the field who could be progressive. The form of his win in the autumn worked out well enough and his penultimate run came when the yard was struggling for form whilst he can be forgiven his jumping error at Warwick. This race could turn out to be a shade less competitive and we fancy Night Safe to take the beating.
Night Safe (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Led, mistake 1st, headed before 2nd, led 4th until fell at the 11th in race won by Firth Of Forth (10-12) at Warwick 3m nov chs (4) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Cava Bien 16-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, headway 9th, led approaching 3 out, clear 2 out, hit last, ridden out, won at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May beating Ladino (10-5) by 2l, 12 ran.
Royal Hector (GER) 8-1 (12-6) Chased leader, made most after, hit 13th, headed soon after 4 out, outpaced by front pair after next, 3rd of 8, 29l behind Limerick Boy (11-13) at Newbury 2m 6f hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Rear, hit 3rd and 13th, left poor 3rd 4 out until soon after last, 4th of 8, 38l behind Darkness (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Feb.
Heart Springs 20-1 (11-5) Held up, headway to chase leaders from 8th, chased winner before 2 out, staying on same pace when mistake and unseated rider at the last in race won by Bannister Lane (11-12) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Manly Money 10-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, kept on one pace from last, 2nd of 9, 12l behind John Diamond (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov '07.
Wild Ground (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) In touch, ridden after 17th, soon weakened, 4th of 14, well behind Teeming Rain (11-1) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Alcatras (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) In rear from 4th, 5th of 10, 40l behind Wednesday Country (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs (4) gd in Feb.
Ede'iff 12-1 (10-2) In touch, weakened approaching 12th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Fresh Air And Fun (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
