took keen hold, led until headed 4 out, starting to lose place when not much room on inside after next, soon weakened
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 4th, travelling well in 3rd 3 out, led soon after last, edged right run-in, driven out
held up, bumped 1st, tracked leader after 4th until after 10th, chased leaders, slightly hampered 13th, lost place next, outpaced 3 out, plugged on into 4th last, kept on pressing for 3rd
held up in touch, hit 6th and reminders chasing leaders after, went 2nd and slightly hampered 3 out, led approaching 2 out, mistake last, soon headed, held when not much room on rail run-in, hung badly left towards finish
last pair, jumped right and bumped rival 1st, headway on outside chasing leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, blundered last
pressed leader until after 4th, handy, mistake 6th, 2nd again after 10th, mistake 13th, led 4 out, mistake and went right next, headed approaching 2 out, soon 3rd, no extra
NonRunner
Gold Present is on a hat-trick and the form of his course and distance victory in December has been franked. But he’s gone up another 8lb and has never won on ground this soft. Connections may have one eye on the Grand National, for which he’s a leading fancy. Vieux Lion Rouge is also Aintree-bound but will appreciate conditions and has a chance at the weights. Tenor Nivernais, Regal Encore and Minella Daddy have all won around here in the past with the former racing off the same mark as when successful in this 12 months ago. HOLLY BUSH HENRY and Another Venture are less-exposed, however, and receiving plenty of weight. The latter has ground out victories at Chepstow and Hereford lately and loves the mud but James Bowen has an excellent record on Phil Middleton’s seven-year-old, who gets the nod.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 33-1 (11-12) In touch, jumped right 1st, lost place from 4th, pulled up before 13th, at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Regal Encore (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Last pair, tailed off and pulled up before 13th, at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place before 16th (valentines), weakened 3 out, remote 8th 2 out, tailed off, 7th of 15, dist behind Blaklion (11-6) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Raced on inside, led after 1st, jumped right 3rd, headed and dropped to 3rd 10th, 2nd again 12th until hit 3 out, outpaced when mistake and lost 3rd 2 out, weakened, 4th of 6, dist behind Acting Lass (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders soon after 1st, 2nd between last 2, every chance last, stayed on run-in, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Ballydine (10-11) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Another Venture (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Led until not fluent 2nd, stayed in touch, ridden 12th, challenged before 4 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Regal Flow (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Gold Present (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, 3rd before 2 out, close 2nd under pressure and good jump last, ridden and stayed on strongly to lead run-in, won at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec beating Frodon (11-7) by 3l, 14 ran.
