took keen hold, tracked leading trio, not fluent 8th, pushed along and outpaced in 3rd 3 out, no chance with 1st two
made most until headed 12th, soon pushed along in 3rd, rallied in 2nd 4 out, led again 2 out, ridden and clear before the last, idled and edged right final 100 yards, driven to hold on
pressed winner, led 12th until before 4 out, chased leaders, weakened next
tracked leading pair, challenged 8th, 2nd 12th, led before 4 out until 2 out, ridden and held before the last, rallied as winner idled last 100 yards, just held
Transient Bay put a string of poor efforts behind him when winning over hurdles at Uttoxeter but he was pulled up on his earlier chasing debut over these fences. Cooper's Friend had been in good form before failing to complete at Kelso but on much faster going than this so MARLEE MASSIE is preferred. He seemed to find the 3m here beyond him last time but was ahead of Buffalo Ballet when scoring over these fences in December and today’s ground suits.
Cooper's Friend (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, mistake 6 out, soon lost place, pulled up, at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Marlee Massie (IRE) 17-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced 7 out, plugged on and left 3rd from 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Newtown Lad (11-6) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Transient Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, soon hard pressed, kept on gamely run-in, held on towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Big Meadow (11-12) by 1l, 11 ran.
Buffalo Ballet 10-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Fingerontheswitch (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
