led and raced wide throughout, driven after 3 out, headed flat, stayed on
held up, headway after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, nearest finish
in touch, effort 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, steady headway from 2 out, never nearer
held up, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, headway under pressure to lead flat, stayed on strongly
in touch, weakend after 3 out
in touch, lost place before 2 out
prominent, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up, headway before 2 out, kept on, never troubled leaders
mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out
held up mid-division, never on terms
in touch when fell 8th
held up in touch, keen hold, weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off
prominent, ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, soon weakened
mid-division, weakened after 3 out
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, outpaced before next, rallied and stayed on, never nearer
Isle de Maurice has been in good form of late but Gardie Grissell's gelding may be a shade high in the weights now and preference is for Topless, with English Jim rated the best of the rest. The selection is less exposed than most of these and, having made a winning start to his handicap career at Taunton last time, is still potentially well treated off a 7lb higher mark. Bohemian Boy is capable but has no easy task giving weight away all round, while Stars Delight remains on a fair mark but is inconsistent. Count Boris would have claims on the pick of his form but Jonathan Geake's horses are not on top of their form at present so he is probably best watched. Moorlands Return is undoubtedly better than he showed when pulled up at Towcester last time and is another to consider along with the consistent English Jim, who came back to form at Plumpton recently. Topless has further improvement to come though and gets the vote to win again.
Bohemian Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Jumped left early, led, headed 4th, lost place after 6th, behind from 9th and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Brumous (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
Isle de Maurice 15-2 (10-4) Never fluent, mid-division, ridden after 9th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 16, 20l behind Copsale Lad (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Stars Delight (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up, kept on approaching last, never a threat, 4th of 7, 9l behind Come Bye (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
English Jim (IRE) 7-2 (10-3) Mid-division, closer order 6th, plugged on to take 2nd flat, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Migwell (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb.
Count Boris 14-1 (11-7) Prominent until 5th, gradually lost place, tailed off from 8th, 9th of 14, well behind Rockys Girl (10-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Topless (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 9th, went 2nd approaching last, ran on to lead close home, won at Taunton 3m mrs hcp hdl (5) gs in Feb beating Elbdoubleu (11-8) by a shd, 9 ran.
Moorlands Return 9-2jt-fav (11-5) In touch and never going, soon driven along, chased leaders 3 out, weakened soon after, beaten when pulled up at the last in race won by Whitford Don (11-1) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Feb, 16 ran.
Heart Springs 14-1 (11-12) Held up, headway and not fluent 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 19, 6l behind Wotashambles (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Needle Prick (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Led until 7th, prominent, ridden after 9th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 12, 20l behind Rockys Girl (9-7) at Taunton 3m amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Lescer's Lad 4-1jt-fav (11-0) Behind, headway 8th, challenged next, ran on well to lead near finish, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jan beating Smeathe's Ridge (11-7) by a nk, 11 ran.
