not always fluent, held up, headway after 8th, blundered 10th, challenged from 2 out, stayed on
held up, jumped slowly 9th, progress 10th, soon outpaced, stayed on from 2 out
chased leaders, blundered 10th, every chance 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, headway 10th, led 3 out to last, no extra towards finish
prominent, hit 8th and lost place, weakened approaching 10th, well behind when pulled up before 4 out
always prominent, hit 4 out, led last, ridden out
led to 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up, headway after 4 out, challenged from 2 out, no extra close home
in touch, not fluent 9th, soon driven along, outpaced 3 out, no danger after
mid-division, blundered 10th, weakened 4 out
Neysauteur, Tom's Gone Grey and Young Lorcan are the three to consider and Tom's Gone Grey can overcome a long absence and take this. Neysauteur was a winning chaser in France before coming to this country and after a good second first time out, made no mistake next time at Market Rasen. Young Lorcan should be respected after winning his final two starts of last season. He won them narrowly but showed a capacity to battle. This is his seasonal re-appearance but he won his first two races last season and will relish the testing conditions. Four of Robert Alner's last nine runners have won and Tom's Gone Grey can continue that run despite an absence of nineteen months. He won three of his last four starts, leading in his last race but unseating his rider. Tom's Gone Grey could be very useful and is taken to make his rivals feel that little bit older.
Neysauteur (FR) 6-4fav (11-10) Held up, progress into 3rd after 9th, soon closed on leaders, led after 11th, soon clear, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd beating Ultimate Limit (10-12) by 17l, 6 ran.
Master Sebastian 20-1 (11-1) Towards rear, outpaced 5 out, headway under pressure after 3 out, no further progress, 5th of 12, 11l behind Hawk's Landing (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Barton Legend 9-2 (11-0) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed soon after last, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Au Courant (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Young Lorcan 7-2 (11-5) Held up, headway 9th, hit 11th, led after 12th, ridden 3 out, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Mar beating Major Belle (10-0) by a hd, 8 ran.
Toms Gone Grey (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Led until approaching 8th, led again 9th, joined when blundered and unseated rider 5 out in race won by Charlies Future (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Mar '05, 5 ran.
Supreme Tadgh (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Driven along after 5th, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lubinas (11-3) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Smeathe's Ridge 11-10fav (10-8) In touch, led 13th to 3 out, soon ridden, every chance last, not quicken, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Nice Try (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Before The Mast (IRE) 11-4fav (10-9) Mid-division, hit 6th, headway 8th, mistake 9th, kept on flat, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Golden Duck (10-9) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
