pressed leader, not fluent 3rd, ridden before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
led, awkward 3rd, clear 5th, reduced advantage 8th, ridden after 5 out, headed before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, blundered 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway between runners to chase leaders before 4 out where left in lead, ridden clear before 3 out, reduced advantage before last, headed and no extra flat
held up in rear, headway on outside before 7th, smooth progress to lead when fell 4 out
midfield, restrained towards rear 4th, in rear but in touch 6th, ridden after 5 out, still in contention when brought down by faller 4 out
prominent, ridden and lost place after 5 out, in rear but in touch before 4 out, left in 2nd 4 out, headway to chase leader before last, stayed on strongly to lead flat
Though racing keenly, REIVERS LAD was in front and still travelling when falling at the fifth-last at Haydock following a very long absence. If that has brought him forward, he could be the one to beat in this. Ardera Cross won over a longer trip here in January but couldn’t follow that up back over 2m at Musselburgh in a race in which I'm To Blame was an early faller. Victory Echo has been quite lightly raced and came good over fences at Newcastle but is unlikely to get an uncontested lead in this.
I'm To Blame (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Led until fell 2nd, at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Touch Kick (IRE) 125-1 (10-10) Led until after 1st, chased winner, not fluent 2nd, hit 7th, not fluent 8th, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened, 8th of 14, dist behind Dashel Drasher (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Dali Mail (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Held up in last pair, steady headway 11th, chased leaders before 4 out, plugging on in modest 4th when when hit 2 out,, 4th of 13, 13 1/4l behind Clan Legend (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Reivers Lad 7-2 (11-9) Prominent, led 5th, fell 5 out, at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Victory Echo (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led, jumped right, went well clear, ridden before 3 out, lead reduced but kept on well enough, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Le Grand Fromage (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ardera Cross (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Chased leader, left in lead and hampered 2nd, headed next, left in lead 5th, headed after 8th, no extra 3 out, 4th of 9, 24l behind Ruinous (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.