held up towards rear, some headway after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, mistake last
held up towards rear, not clear run after 4 out, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on
prominent on outside, jumped left 7th, led before next, headed 9th, no extra last
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, every chance 3 out, 2nd but no impression on winner from 2 out, stayed on
held up towards rear, hit 6th and 7th, well beaten after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, pushed along after 4th, ridden before 8th, stayed on from last, keeping on close home, never on terms
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear on outside, headway after 7th, lost place from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway after 4 out, no extra when mistake 2 out
always behind
mid-division, some headway after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
prominent, not much room and led after 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened flat
tracked leaders, one pace 2 out, no extra last
tracked leaders, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, no impression next
held up in rear, headway when hampered badly after 4 out, stayed on same pace from next
led, headed approaching 8th, led next, headed after 4 out, weakened before next
mid-division, ridden 8th, weakened after 4 out
in touch in mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th flat
mid-division, towards rear when mistake 5th, fell 9th
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led 3 out, clear when hung right before last, hung left flat, ran on well
Nonrunner
An impossible-looking staying handicap rounds off proceedings and features several unexposed types. Wilton Milan certainly falls into that category but the stable selection looks to be Easter Day, whose only defeat over hurdles so far came in a Grade 1 at Newbury in December. Useful Flat performer Buthelezi won here on his hurdling debut and was successful over 2m3f at Catterick in February. He is potentially well treated if last home while Nico De Boinville takes 7lb off Open Hearted, though he's closely matched with Baby Shine on Kempton running. Considering it was heavy ground, MANY CLOUDS ran a cracker under a welter burden in a Grade 3 at Sandown last month. Oliver Sherwood's novice will almost certainly be suited by the step up to 3m and could be the one in this though Barafundle is rarely far away and Sixty Something returned to winning ways at Market Rasen last time. Lienosus could also be worth a second look off a low weight while Jetson finished ahead of a number of these in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, though is high enough in the weights now.
Open Hearted 10-3 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden before pressed briefly last, driven to assert flat, stayed on well, eased close home, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Mar beating Baby Shine (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
First Fandango 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, effort 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression, 9th of 24, 10l behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Barafundle (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Close 5th, headway to 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace run-in, no impression on winner, outpaced to 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Master Of The Sea (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.
Jetson (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Mid-division, outpaced 2 out, rallied under pressure approaching last, stayed on to chase leading pair flat, just held for 2nd, 3rd of 24, 2l behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Sentry Duty (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, ridden after 5th, weakened before next, tailed off 8th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Native Gallery (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May, 17 ran.
Easter Day (FR) 4-9fav (11-11) Made all, not fluent 5th, mistake 2 out, clear last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Feb beating Nataani (11-3) by 4l, 5 ran.
Double Ross (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led, hit 4th, headed 3 out, led again next, ridden and headed before last, no impression on winner final 100 yards, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 23, 8l behind Salubrious (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) sft in Mar.
Many Clouds (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Keen, chased leaders, led before 2 out until 2 out, chased winner, ridden and well held between last two, kept on for 2nd, 2nd of 16, 12l behind Close Touch (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f NH Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4-7yo) (1) hvy in Mar.
Wilton Milan (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, took closer order 3 out, led 2 out ridden before last, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Houndscourt (11-2) by 4l, 12 ran.
Ballybough Pat (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, in touch on outside, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, 20th of 24, well behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Ely Brown (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) In touch, chased leading pair 3 out to before last, soon weakened, 6th of 24, 9l behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Hollow Tree 33-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced 2 out, weakened last, 11th of 28, 19l behind Medinas (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Sixty Something (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up, hit 7th, headway to join leaders soon after, led 8th, driven out, won at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar beating Crowning Jewel (11-7) by 1l, 9 ran.
Ericht (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) In touch, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leading pair on inside before last, one pace flat, 5th of 28, 6l behind Medinas (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Silver Gypsy (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along 4 out, tailed off from 3 out, 7th of 8, 25l behind Ma Filleule (11-0) at Warwick 2m 3f hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Baby Shine (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Raced wide, sharing 4th place, went 3rd 3 out, chased winner 2 out, challenged last, hung left under pressure and readily held flat, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Open Hearted (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Mar.
Buthelezi (USA) 10-11fav (11-7) Made all, shaken up before 2 out, ran on strongly, easily, won at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Roman Flight (11-10) by 13l, 15 ran.
Hada Men (USA) 28-1 (10-13) Mid-division, lost place 7th, no danger after, 12th of 24, 22l behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Connectivity (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway halfway, chased leaders 5 out, every chance 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Kaylif Aramis (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Mar.
Lienosus (IRE) 1-2fav (11-2) In touch, travelling well in 4th after 3 out, led before blundered 2 out, soon in command, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Tuscan Gold (10-13) by 6l, 12 ran.
Battle Group 20-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, outpaced in 4th 3 out, plugged on to take moderate 3rd after last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 13, 26l behind Vino Griego (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Close House 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, outpaced 3 out, blundered next, weakened and eased before last, 19th of 24, well behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
