chased leaders, led approachinig 3 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly
tracked leader, hit 5 out, ridden after 4 out, one pace in 3rd and held when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
led, headed before 3 out, one pace, no chance with winner
held up in touch and keen, ridden before 4 out, no impression from next
held up in rear, fell 10th
tracked leaders, blundered 1st, jumped slow 2nd and lost place and soon in rear, reminders and ran in snatches approaching 8th, no impression from 4 out
Nonrunner
SPECIAL PORTRAIT beat Noir Et Vert and Desertmore Star in a point-to-point at Overton 11 days ago and is fancied to confirm the form over regulation fences, despite the placed horses re-opposing on 4lb better terms here. Mark Hughes' improving seven-year-old has won three of his four starts between the flags this season and should be too strong for Twelve Paces, who won a handicap at Perth last August but is having his first run for new connections today and hasn't been out since October. The others are difficult to fancy on these terms.
Special Portrait (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) (tt) ap; led aft 3 out; kpt on wl, won at Overton 3m ptp gs beating Noir Et Vert (12-5) by 4l, 8 ran.
Desertmore Star (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) Chsd ldrs; ev ch 3 out; rallied flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Special Portrait (12-5) at Overton 3m ptp gs.
Noir Et Vert (FR) 10-1 (12-5) Led til hdd aft 3 out; kpt on, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Special Portrait (12-5) at Overton 3m ptp gs.
Silver Breese 16-1 (12-5) Prom til wknd app 15; pu nxt, in a race won by Farriers Flight (12-5) at Alnwick 3m ptp gs in Jan, 18 ran.
Miss Teeny Bash (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) (cp) nvr plcd to chall, 6th of 17, 11l behind Instant Shot (12-5) at Overton 3m ptp gs.
Polobury 6-1 (11-7) Ap; ev ch 4 out; one pce, 3rd of 18, 8l behind Skipping Chapel (12-0) at Overton 3m ptp gs.
Twelve Paces 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 9th, reminders after 13th, well beaten approaching 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Le Platino (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
