in touch, weakened after 7th, blundered next, soon in rear
in rear, headway on long run to 2 out, ridden to chase winner 2 out, no impression from last
in rear, some headway on long run to 2 out, never nearer
tracked leader until 5th, pushed along 7th, weakened after next
mid-division, headway to track leaders after 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened before last
towards rear, mistake 8th, headway next, chased winner 3 out until hit 2 out, kept on one pace
keen in touch when blundered first and nearly unseated rider, ridden 3out, chased winner briefly next, kept on one pace
held up, headway on long run to 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace
led, headed 9th, weakened on long run to 2 out
tracked leaders, tracked leader 5th, led 9th, made rest, clear last, ran on
Stagecoach Opal left his recent form behind when scoring at Catterick on his latest start but this is a more difficult test. Last Of The Bunch appreciated the step up to 2m6f when winning at Ayr last month and there may be more to come from him over this longer distance. Crazy Eyes is creeping up the weights despite not winning and may have to settle for a place again with PEGASUS PRINCE preferred. He got off the mark at Uttoxeter in January and needed every yard of the 2m3f at this track to beat Kauto Relko three weeks ago. Keith Reveley's charge looks capable of landing his hat-trick over today's longer trip.
Surface To Air 10-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 13th, headway approaching 16th, led after 4 out, ridden clear last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 4m lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Jun '08 beating Out The Black (11-5) by 13l, 16 ran.
Pegasus Prince (USA) 15-2 (10-9) Held up in last pair, hit 4th, 10th and ridden after 3 out, still plenty to do next, headway into 4th when hit last, stayed on strongly flat to lead final 75 yards, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Kauto Relko (10-8) by 1l, 12 ran.
The Shy Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, lost place and towards rear before 5th, weakened before 8th, 12th of 13, well behind Skippers Brig (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Night Orbit 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, pushed along before 2nd, reminders after 4th, weakened from 7th, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Al Co (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Love of Tara 25-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place after 7th, well behind next, pulled up after, in a race won by Mobaasher (11-7) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Crazy Eyes (IRE) 5-1fav (11-8) Held up in rear, headway approaching 9th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, hit 2 out, ran on flat, every chance near finish, just held, 2nd of 17, nk behind Snake Charmer (11-1) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Last of The Bunch 14-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, went 2nd from 5th, led approaching 3 out, soon headed, ridden approaching last, rallied to regain lead flat, kept on gamely, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb beating Charlie Bucket (10-9) by nk, 13 ran.
Zitenka (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Chased winner to 12th, not fluent next, driven and outpaced before 4 out, soon ridden, 10 lengths down in 3rd when blundered 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Dark Ben (10-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Always Bold (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Led to 4 out, mistake 7th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 38l behind Palypso De Creek (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Stagecoach Opal 16-1 (11-0) In touch, with leader 4th, led approaching 8th, headed briefly before 2 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb beating Wor Rom (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
