held up in last, headway approaching 2 out (normal 5 out), weakened on home turn
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 1st, ridden and no impression before home turn, went 3rd final 150 yards
held up in touch, jumped slowly and lost place 2nd, reminder after next, behind 3 out (normal 6 out), tailed off when mistake last (normal 4 out)
held up in touch, challenged 2 out (normal 5 out), ridden after home turn, no impression on winner final 2f
made virtually all, mistake 2 out (normal 5 out), ridden on home turn, stayed on well
led early, pressed winner until 2 out (normal 5 out), one pace on home turn, no impression, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, ridden and weakened 3 out (normal 6 out), pulled up before last (normal 4 out)
Nonrunner
Classy chaser Burton Port makes his long-awaited comeback but will surely be better for the run. Lovcen became disappointing last season and is best watched until showing signs of a revival but Orsippus is definitely worth a second look. He won a Grade 1 around here in his younger days and has been successful on soft ground in the past. A 10lb claimer takes the ride on ELY BROWN and that may be enough for Charlie Longdon's stayer to reverse running here in the spring with First Fandango. There were similar underfoot conditions when he scrambled home in this 12 months ago. Perth third Malin Bay is taking on better opposition today.
Burton Port (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, rallied on outside between last 2, stayed on flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Follow The Plan (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Apr '12.
Lovcen (GER) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hit 7th, lost place 3 out, soon behind, 8th of 10, well behind Reve De Sivola (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
First Fandango 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 6th, well beaten 4 out, 14th of 20, 40l behind Battle Group (11-9) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Gauvain (GER) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, struggling when badly hampered 3 out, stayed on well flat, nearest finish, not recover, 4th of 12, 9l behind Hidden Identity (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd.
Ely Brown (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, some headway after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, 13th of 21, 28l behind Battle Group (10-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Orsippus (USA) 16-1 (10-10) Led, mistake 2 out, soon headed, switched right before last, no extra flat, 8th of 20, 10l behind Battle Group (11-9) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Malin Bay (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, chased winner after 9th, closed but lost 2nd flat, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Emily's Flyer (11-0) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Sep.
Alpha Victor (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) In rear, jumped slow 1st and 2nd, soon detached, refused and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Ruben Cotter (11-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f nov chs (4) gd in Feb, 6 ran.
