tracked leaders, lost place and towards rear 3rd, behind and struggling when mistake 8th, soon pulled up
took keen hold, chased winner until 8th, soon behind, tailed off when mistake 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway on inside 9th, chased leaders before 3 out, 4th and one pace from next
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 7th, chased leading pair 2 out, one pace between last two
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 3rd, disputing 2nd when mistake 8th, weakened before 3 out, mistake last, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened quickly before 3 out
took keen hold, in touch on inside, hit 2nd, outpaced 7th, rallied into modest 5th 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, hit 2 out, one pace between last two
mid-division, pushed along before 5th, struggling in rear after next, tailed off and pulled up 9th
jumped left, made all, stayed on strongly from 2 out, comfortably
held up in last pair, steady headway 6th, soon tracking leaders, driven after 3 out, weakened before next, mistake last
SPECIAL AGENT is one of the least exposed having won a maiden hurdle at Ascot last month by eight lengths. He can land this with further progress expected and is preferred to recent course winner Sir Vinski. Capard King, Chosen Well and Coologue were all beaten off similar marks to today last time having won their penultimate starts but Racing Europe went close in a higher grade at Kelso last time. Shanroe Santos was outclassed in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last month but will be more at home in this company.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 19, well behind Martello Tower (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Coologue (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Led until narrowly headed 3 out, chased winner until before 2 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 4th of 6, 17l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Mar.
Chosen Well (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, lost 2nd before last, stayed on one pace, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 7, 9l behind Katgary (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Mar.
Racing Europe (IRE) 3-1fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 9th, led after 3 out, soon hard pressed, headed narrowly last, ridden to regain lead flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, hd behind Milansbar (11-12) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Special Agent 7-4fav (11-1) Tracked leader, pushed along when mistake 4 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Paddy The Deejay (11-1) by 8l, 7 ran.
Smooth Stepper 5-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden before 5 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 11, 16l behind Make Me A Fortune (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Come On Laurie (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, no extra from last, 5th of 8, 8l behind Seaviper (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f (3) sft in Feb.
U Name It (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) In touch, tracked leaders 3 out, led before next, ridden between last 2, headed last, switched left and rallied flat, every chance towards finish, just held, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Looking Well (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Sir Vinski (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, reminders before 6 out, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on well run-in, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Mar beating Aniknam (11-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Capard King (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, mistake last, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Rolling Maul (11-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Aloomomo (FR) 6-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway before 6th, joined leader 12th, led before 3 out, headed before last, weakened last 100 yards, 4th of 8, 5l behind Russe Blanc (11-7) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
