tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after 3rd, blundered 14th, went 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner and dropped to 3rd last, no extra inside final 100 yards
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 4th, soon switched right, not fluent 13th, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd and mistake last, no impression on winner
tracked leader until before 7th, left 2nd 12th, led going well 2 out, clear before last, easily
led, jumped right and not fluent 5th, joined when fell 12th
held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 11th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten from 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, challenging when left in lead 12th, kicked on before 4 out, mistake 3 out, headed 2 out, 4th and no extra last
A Grade 2 winner over hurdles, the 10-year-old Thomas Darby jumped well when successful back over the larger obstacles at Ayr and could outrun big odds in this. Galia Des Liteaux beat the subsequent Kempton scorer Complete Unknown on less favourable terms at Warwick but was behind GERRI COLOMBE and Bronn in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. Gordon Elliott’s gelding was unlucky to lose his unbeaten record over fences that day and can recoup losses here.
Bronn (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Chased winner, not fluent 9th, every chance 2 out, held flat, lost 2nd inside final 75 yards, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind The Real Whacker (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Complete Unknown (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Wide, in touch, headway 11th, tracked leaders next, tracked leader 3 out, led next, ran on, comfortable, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Silver Hallmark (11-1) by 16l, 10 ran.
Gerri Colombe (FR) 5-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 9th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well flat, went 2nd inside final 75 yards, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind The Real Whacker (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Sholokjack (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Held up in rear, hampered by faller 1st, some headway before 10th where not fluent, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Bill Baxter (11-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Pressed leader, led 9th, headed narrowly before 4 out, led again last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Gold Cup Bailly (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Galia Des Liteaux (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, disputing 5th and beaten when pecked 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 10, 16 1/4l behind The Real Whacker (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
