tracked leaders, mistake rider lost iron briefly 2nd, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
led before 1st where mistake, mistake next, hit 4th and next, headed 8th, chased leaders, weakened after 5 out, behind when mistake next, pulled up soon after
held up in 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
tracked leader 3rd until pushed along 4 out, chased leading pair, lost modest 3rd run-in
held up, smooth headway on inside after 5 out, 2nd 4 out, challenged next, led 2 out, soon clear, easily
led until before 1st where mistake and next, lost 2nd 3rd, in front again 8th, driven clear before 4 out, joined next, mistake and headed 2 out, soon outpaced, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish
Niven appears to have been suited by small fields since switching to Philip Kirby and is the likely pace angle in this. Sword Of Fate is still trained in Ireland but he was well beaten when falling at Carlisle last month. Peppay Le Pugh was beaten 12 lengths off this mark when last running over fences but Boagrius arrives on a hat-trick and has only been raised a further 2lb. Budarri made mistakes when coming up short at Kelso last month and RAVENHILL ROAD has had a wind operation since well beaten in a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January. Earlier runs at Wetherby and Newcastle would put him in the picture here.
Niven (IRE) 13-8 (11-5) Made all, clear before last, readily, 2nd of 3, 7l behind Cool Mix (11-0) at Newcastle 2m (2) gs in Feb.
Sword Of Fate (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) Led until not fluent 12th, no extra when not fluent 3 out, distant 3rd when fell last, at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) gs in Mar.
Ravenhill Road (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up last, blundered and pecked 5th, closer in 3rd place 7th, outpaced and no chance with leading duo 3 out, 3rd of 4, 22 1/2l behind Dynamite Dollars (11-5) at Doncaster 2m (1) gd in Jan.
Boagrius (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Made all, jumped left 2nd and 4 out, hard pressed thereafter, edged left flat, stayed on gamely, won at Leicester 2m hcp (3) gf in Feb beating All Is Good (10-4) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Peppay Le Pugh (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, outpaced by front pair after 2 out, never able to get on terms, ridden and lost place before last, one pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Petit Palais (10-13) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Mar.
Budarri 7-2 (10-13) Led, not fluent 1st, hit 8th, ridden before 3 out, headed last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Alizee De Janeiro (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Mar.