tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, stayed on after last, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on well
mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, some late headway, never nearer
held up towards rear, headway 2 out, challenging when not fluent last, led closing stages, ran on well (1 hurdle omitted)
chased leaders, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, weakened last
keen in rear, outpaced 3 out, never a factor
always prominent, mistake 3rd, led 4 out, mistake 2 out, soon headed, hung left after last, kept on
led, not fluent 4th, headed 5 out, soon rallied, led again after 2 out, headed closing stages, no extra
NonRunner
Scales returned to form with a second at Hereford last time but his only win since 2015 came in a selling hurdle last year. The less-exposed BORDER VICTOR is preferred as he looks to have slipped down to a winning mark judged on a couple of recent placed efforts including Wetherby last time, so he gets the nod. Tickanrun had been thereabouts before pulling up lame at Catterick last time but Chicago Lady looks a bigger threat making her handicap debut having finished runner-up in a novices’ hurdle over track and trip last month.
Chicago Lady (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Led, pressed from 5 out, headed before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 4th of 5, 19 1/2l behind Skewiff (11-6) at Haydock 2m 7f (3) sft in Mar.
Scales (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Took keen hold, in touch in mid-division, headway before 6th, close 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Sackett (11-11) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Tickanrun (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) In rear, ridden after 7th, eased and pulled up before next, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Strike West (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Keen, chased leaders, lost place 3rd, rallied in 3rd before 3 out, 2nd before 2 out and closed, lost 2nd before the last, weakened badly run-in, 3rd of 7, 18 1/4l behind Drums Of War (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Permission Granted (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, last of 7, 11 3/4l behind Spectator (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Aniknam (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Towards rear, ridden and struggling 7th, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
Captain Black 11-1 (11-4) Held up, lost place 3 out, 11th of 14, 27 3/4l behind Our Lucas (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Border Victor 7-1 (10-6) Led, ridden and headed last, soon edged left, kept on, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Witness (10-13) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Herecomesnelson (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, lost place before 5th, in rear, pushed along 6 out, soon pulled up, at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
