chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed next, soon weakened
chased leader, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, hit 4 out, soon ridden, weakened next
mid-division, headway after 4 out, ridden and every chance next, one pace from last
mid-division, weakened from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
pulled hard, led, headed when weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, headway next, no impression
held up towards rear, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead next, clear when not fluent last, kept on flat
Nonrunner
An interesting contest can go the way of Lirta, with a whole host of possibles including stablemates Magico and Donovan, Mr Lear, Kelly and Crossbow Creek. Lirta has been placed three times since joining Martin Pipe from Philip Hobbs and the ex-French performer could be about to end his frustrating run here, with the drop back to the minimum trip expected to be in his favour. He is a real trailblazing sort who took on useful company in his native land and has already been tried over fences. No doubt he will be going that route again in the near future, but in the meantime he has conditions in his favour here and gets the vote to make all. Magico is another that has been knocking at the door, having been runner-up on each of his last two starts, most lately here behind Beamish Prince. Donovan ran out of steam at Towcester so should find things a little bit easier here, while Mr Lear will come on for the run, although he did turn out on the Flat at Nottingham in November. Kelly left the money in the bookies satchels when a beaten favourite at Huntingdon in November but the shorter trip will help, and Crossbow Creek should not be left out of calculations either. Mark Rimell's charge, who ran in the Cheltenham Bumper in March 2003, was still going well when falling three out at Wincanton in December, and can go well at a big price. A wide-open affair can go to Lirta.
