held up in rear, not that fluent, hit 5th, modest 6th 3 out, no impression
led until 10th, outpaced 3 out, rallied last, went 3rd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner
held up towards rear, mistake 9th, well beaten from 4 out
tracked leader, led 10th, clear after 12th, eased close home
not fluent, took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon 3rd, no impression on winner, no extra last
mid-division, headway 12th, 2nd after 4 out, no impression on winner, lost 2nd and no extra flat
chased leaders, ridden after 12th, outpaced 3 out, rallied last, went 2nd and stayed on flat, no impression on winner
chased leaders, ridden after 11th, lost place next, soon behind, mistake last
NonRunner
Ashcott Boy was disappointing after springing a surprise in this 12 months ago but is 3lb lower and this seems to be his time of year. Baileys Concerto goes well here and Gowanauthat is a consistent sort, as is Definite Future. Easy Street is back in the right grade after pulling up at Haydock but Ffos Las winner Kingston will need to improve again to figure here. DEGOOCH might need this but was in very good form in the autumn and has a pretty good strike-rate over fences – we’ll take a chance on his fitness.
Easy Street (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Always behind, pushed along before 5 out, pulled up, at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Led until 11th, chased leading pair until driven before 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 34l behind Sandy Beach (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Falcarragh (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Held up, in rear, shaken up and closed after 4 out, no impression 2 out, not fluent last, weakened flat, last of 5, 29 1/2l behind Fountains Blossom (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f (5) gd in Aug.
Definite Future (IRE) 6-4fav (10-11) Led and soon clear, reduced lead 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, last of 3, 27l behind Max Ward (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Degooch (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Held up in last pair, headway 9th, sqeezed through between rivals 5 out, chased leader before next, effort 3 out, every chance next, ridden and lost place between last 2, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Indian Stream (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Baileys Concerto (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out, soon behind, stayed on to take modest 4th flat, no chance with leaders, 4th of 7, 28 1/2l behind Mystifiable (10-13) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Ashcott Boy 12-1 (11-6) Tracked clear leader until dropped to rear 4th, outpaced 7th, not fluent next and reminder, struggling when reminder again before 12th, tailed off, jumped left final 3, last of 4, dist behind Meldrum Lad (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Kingston (GER) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 6th, challenged 3 out, switched left before last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Chankillo (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Gowanauthat (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Jumped right at times, led, headed before 11th, challenging 3 out, led after next, bumped last, stayed on, headed last strides, 2nd of 3, nk behind Opening Batsman (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.