held up, reminders after 3rd, headway 9th, ridden to chase winner after 4 out to 2 out, weakening when mistake last
held up in rear, steady headway 11th, led and blundered 14th, ridden 2 out, stayed on
prominent, blundered 10th, ridden after 14th, chased winner 2 out, one pace flat
prominent, led 6th to 14th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, hit 13th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
in touch, reminder after 2nd, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, ridden after 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
led to 6th, ridden and lost place after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Young Lorcan gets our vote here, with his main dangers given as Yassar and Indian Laburnum. Young Lorcan goes well here, his record being two wins and a second from three runs and, even though he won this from a seven-pounds lower mark last season, he warmed up for this with a win here over hurdles so, for us, looks a leading player today. Yassar followed five incompletions with a cosy 66/1 success here from a six-pounds lower mark but, even so, could well have more improvement in him and gets a solid mention, while much as Lantern Lad is a course and distance winner (from a five-pounds lower mark), generally speaking he is not the most consistent and that makes us prefer others. Indian Laburnum cannot be ruled out based on his novice handicap chase win of October 2004, and he wears first-time blinkers today, while Apple Joe could have a case made for him based on December/January runs. Red Alert Man needs more, having been raised five pounds for his Leicester win, while Advance East has won twice at this track and, although his winning rating here is higher than his most-recent course success, you have to go back to 2002 for that win, although he has more recent form that gives him place claims. Finally, Finzi could be given a chance if fully wound up for this but we prefer others on this occasion, chief among them being Young Lorcan.
One Day (NZ) 6-1 (11-7) Towards rear, reminder 8th, mistake 12th, never dangerous, 7th of 10, well behind Primitive Way (10-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Oct.
Young Lorcan 3-1fav (10-6) Held up, headway 7th, led last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) hvy beating Lochiedubs (10-8) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Finzi (IRE) 9-4fav (10-0) Led 3rd to 9th, led again after 12th, headed 16th, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Follow The Flow (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Dec.
Yassar (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Chased leader, led 8th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, led again last, ran on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct beating Meggie's Beau (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Test of Friendship 11-2 (11-4) Close up, lost place 7th, mistake 9th, behind and pulled up 3 out in race won by Don't Tell Jr (11-1) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Feb, 11 ran.
Lantern Lad (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led 8th, headed 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, well behind Lauderdale (11-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) hvy in Feb.
Indian Laburnum (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake, lost place 3rd, ridden after 11th, headway after 13th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 14, 45l behind Mill Bank (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs in Oct.
Advance East 16-1 (9-9) Held up, headway 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 24l behind Dangerousdanmagru (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) hvy.
