raced keenly, held up in touch, headway 12th, effort 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, rallied flat
prominent, blundered 6th, driven and outpaced approaching 4 out, soon beaten, tailed off
held up, headway and in touch 8th, went 2nd 11th, effort 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, held on for 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
tracked leader, led 9th, made rest, drew clear after 2 out, driven out
held up, hit 3rd, reminders 10th, struggling when mistake next and 5 out, soon tailed off
led to 9th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out
It will be interesting to see how the market shapes up for Alan King's Nikos Extra, who makes his debut over fences off what seems a fair mark on his reappearance, but a better bet looks to be MARLEYBOW with the main danger rated as Lease Lend. Tim Easterby's gelding made a highly encouraging return having been off since December when finding just Checkerboard too good in a beginners' chase at Carlisle and he looks reasonably well treated in a handicap off a mark of 115. Gordon Elliott's The Rocking Dock is probably the form horse of the race having won each of his last two starts but the eight-year-old looks plenty high enough in the weights off a mark of 120 now and he may be best watched. It's A Roofer has been placed off the same mark that he races off today on three occasions of late and he should be thereabouts once more but preference is for Marleybow. Howard Johnson's gelding put up a good performance when successful on his reappearance over course and distance in a beginners' chase and he looks to have every chance of following up having justifiably been raised 8lbs since that win.
Nikos Extra (FR) 4-1fav (10-3) In touch, driven and outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 10, 33l behind The Polomoche (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Marleybow (IRE) Evensfav (11-5) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, not fluent last, eased, won at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (5) gf beating Maidstone Mixture (10-7) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Lease Lend 5-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, challenged 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Checkerboard (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf.
Rory Boy (USA) 16-1 (9-9) Close up, weakened 3 out, 14th of 17, 30l behind Treaty Flyer (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sep.
Tranos (USA) 11-1 (11-2) Led to 3rd, chased winner until 2 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Silk Drum (10-7) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gd.
It's A Roofer (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led, stumbled slightly 5th and 3 out, hit pecked and headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Rio Laine (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
The Rocking Dock (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 4th, close 2nd 4 out, led after 3 out, ridden and edged clear 2 out, kept on well under pressure from last, won at Limerick 2m 2f hcp hdl 8Evens09 beating The Paddy Premium (10-10) by 3l, 18 ran.
