chased leaders, reminder after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up and behind, not fluent 1st, some headway but not on terms approaching 3 out, never near leaders
chased leader, not fluent 4th, led briefly and driven well before 3 out, weakened 2 out
led, ridden and headed well before 3 out, weakened flat
held up and behind, pulled hard, not fluent 6th or 8th, effort soon after, pulled up quickly well before 3 out
held up, pulled hard, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, struggling 8th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, hit 8th, weakening when jumped left and mistake 3 out
held up in rear, reminder after 5th, behind next, pulled up before 7th
mid-division, headway 8th, went 2nd and not fluent 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on one pace
mid-division, shaken up after 7th, stayed on from 3 out, hit last, soon went 2nd, led final 100 yards, won going away
held up in touch, led approaching 3 out, headed final 100 yards, no extra
Liberia should be taken on with Back To The Wind whilst the consistent Nakoma may be able to make the frame again. The selection was sent off favourite to land a Sandown bumper that was won by leading Cheltenham fancy Big Eared Fran but was beaten 19 lengths into fifth. He's made steady progress in three quiet runs over hurdles and better can be expected now that he's up in trip for his handicap bow. Liberia is another advertisement for the skills of Alison Thorpe and he was far from friendless in the market when getting the better of an in-form rival by a nose at Warwick. His penalty makes life harder but he's unexposed and merits respect. Sir Monty's not without a chance on his autumn form and it would be folly to rule out Soliya; there's little to choose between Nakoma and Harbour Breeze at the weights on last month's course and distance running. A bigger threat may be Double Mead as she races from the same mark as when winning comfortably at Market Rasen but we expect Back To The Wind to show just why he was made favourite for his racecourse bow.
Sir Monty (USA) 25-1 (10-0) Disputed lead until 7th, weakened from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Backbord (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb, 14 ran.
Tension Point 8-1 (11-12) Always prominent, hit 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 6l behind Torba (10-5) at Ludlow 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Soliya (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, under pressure when mistake 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 10, 13l behind Whiteoak (11-8) at Ascot 2m mrs nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Harbour Breeze (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Led, headed after 4 out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Major Malarkey (10-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Phardessa 10-3 (11-12) Held up, headway 7th, led after 4 out, ridden, headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Aberdeen Park (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Back To The Wind (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, some late progress, never a factor, 9th of 14, 23l behind Punchestowns (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Liberia (FR) 17-2 (10-7) Always prominent, not fluent 5th, lost 2nd next, 2nd again before 2 out, switched right, ran on under strong pressure flat to lead close home, won at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Boing Boing (10-9) by a nse, 10 ran.
Agoodun 14-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden 8th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Lamanver Homerun (10-8) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Nakoma (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up, jumped slowly 6th, ridden and outpaced next, stayed on from 3 out not reach leaders, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Major Malarkey (10-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
First De La Brunie (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Held up, never on terms, 10th of 19, 22l behind Lordsbridge (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Feb.
Double Mead 8-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 7th, led 2 out, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd beating Another Jameson (9-12) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
