always behind, struggling from 8th, tailed off from 5 out
held up, ridden and headway after 4 out, one pace from 2 out
always behind, pushed along and struggling from 9th, tailed off from 5 out
with leader, led 4th to 8th, every chance 4 out, blundered next, soon weakened
held up, headway after 5 out, challenged 3 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on from last
chased leades, led 8th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out when not fluent, one pace
held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 5 out
led to 4th, tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out
chased leaders, reminders after 10th, outpaced after 5 out, stayed on from 2 out
Non So, Wain Mountain and Better Days are three against the field in a tough race to call for punters and the tentative vote is given to Better Days. The selection was a fair second behind Be My Better Half last time out. He remains at the right end of the weights and under conditions that suit he looks a value bet in an open affair. Non So rates the main danger on his latest third behind Armaturk but he is becoming hard to win with and at likely odds he looks worth taking on. Wain Mountain won well last time when beating Be My Better Half but he has a penalty for that victory and he will need to improve again to defy his penalty. Schuh Shine won well last time at her beloved Haydock but she is better at that track than any where else and she is opposed for that reason. Of the remainder Claymore looks to be on a handy mark but is better on a faster surface and for the winner we return to Better Days who looks handily weighted.
The Last Cast 66-1 (11-7) Behind from 6th, 15th of 19, well behind Contraband (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Non So (FR) 7-2jt-fav (10-11) Held up in 5th, not fluent 4th, chased leading pair approaching 4 out, one pace between last 2, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Armaturk (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs (B) sft in Dec.
Quazar (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Always in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 8th in race won by Fondmort (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Schuh Shine (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Made all, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan beating Barton Nic (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Claymore (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Behind, headway 11th, every chance 2 out, ridden and one pace flat, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Be My Better Half (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan.
Edmo Yewkay (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) In touch, led 8th, headed 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 18l behind Be My Better Half (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan.
Halexy (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Held up, headway after 3 out, disputing 3rd when fell 2 out in race won by Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov, 23 ran.
Wain Mountain 7-2 (10-8) Prominent, led 5th, in command from 3 out, left clear last, driven out flat, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan beating Be My Better Half (10-13) by 6l, 6 ran.
Better Days (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Always prominent, disputed lead 5 out, every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, just held, 2nd of 11, nk behind Be My Better Half (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan.
