chased leaders on inside, pushed along and losing place when hit 5th, struggling when unseated rider after 3 out
held up in mid-division, pushed laong and headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd run-in, strong challenge near finish, just failed
mid-division, kept on run-in, carried right in closing stages
held up in mid-division, steady headway on inside before 3 out, staying on same pace and held when blundered last
chased leaders, pushed along 4th, weakened next, tailed off before 3 out
chased leader, led 3rd, made rest, strongly pressed and edged right under pressure run-in, just held on
took keen hold tracking leaders, one pace approaching last, hung right and kept on under pressure run-in
mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
led until 3rd, chased winner until weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off
close up on outside, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and outpaced between last 2, kept on again run-in, no threat
held up in rear, blundered 6th, headway after 3 out, kept on run-in, no threat
tracked leaders, 2nd before 3 out, one pace before last, 3rd and one pace run-in
always towards rear, tailed off
took keen hold, always towards rear
The progressive Aristo Du Plessis now goes handicapping having followed up a win in maiden company with victory in a novices event at Wetherby. He's preferred to Catterick plating winner It's A Mans World and the likes of Sleep In First and Ruler Of All, who both look in the handicapper's grip. Vodka Wells has gone up 6lb for finishing second at Ludlow but DARK DUNE is only 3lb higher than when landing a Class 2 handicap at Newcastle in February. This is his easiest task since then and he gets the nod.
Dark Dune (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Led, headed 3 out, ridden and one pace after 2 out, lost place before last, no extra, 5th of 9, 9l behind Avidity (10-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Mar.
Ruler Of All (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, 18th of 21, 28l behind Astre De La Cour (10-10) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd.
Vodka Wells (FR) 6-5fav (11-6) In rear and in touch, led before 3 out, headed last, rallied and just held towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Norse Light (9-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Work In Progress (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, hit 6th, headway 3 out, went 2nd when not fluent last, 3 lengths down when fell last, in a race won by Ivy Gate (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Sleep In First (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and lost place before 5 out, tailed off, last of 6, 31l behind Revolutionary Road (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Dec.
Aristo Du Plessis (FR) 6-5fav (11-0) Always prominent, led before 2nd, not fluent next, clear last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Mar beating Bigindie (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
It's A Mans World 11-4 (10-13) Chased leader, led 5th, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m sell hdl (5) gs in Mar beating Glenconkeyne (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Stylish Chap (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, ridden and no impression before 3 out, 6th of 11, 16l behind Aristo Du Plessis (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Mar.
Ashjar (FR) 50-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, ridden after 3 out, soon no impression, hampered 2 out, 5th of 8, 50l behind Knight's Parade (11-3) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl in Mar.
Peters Grey (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, went 2nd after next, led approaching 2 out, ridden and edged left before last, soon hard pressed, headed narrowly flat, kept on, just held, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Captain Brown (11-3) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Turtle Watch 10-3 (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden before last, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 19l behind Minella Fiveo (10-13) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Mar.
Jack Steel (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Midnight Monty (11-1) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Love Marmalade (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden from 2 out, in 3rd before last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Avidity (11-1) at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar '14.
Stentorian (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Chased leading pair, 2nd on outside 3 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Desert Recluse (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
