chased leaders, shaken up and lost ground after 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, never on terms
made all at modest pace early, ridden after 2 out, mistake last, pressed run-in, stayed on gamely
handy, pushed along in 2nd before 2 out, ridden and stayed on, not pace to challenge
prominent, pushed along before 3 out, gradually faded
held up in rear, in touch, ridden into 3rd after 3 out, kept on and pressed leader run-in, no impression
Dawn Raider is firmly back in the groove but couldn’t cope with an 11lb rise in his hat-trick bid at Newcastle and has been raised a further 2lb since. Shetland Bus was pulled up returning from a break at Stratford but should strip fitter here. Bitasweetsymphony won here in December but has been beaten three times since off higher marks and Harry Du Berlais is making his chasing debut, though has won between the flags. A lack of experience was probably BOB’S BAR’s undoing at Stratford but he still shaped with a degree of promise and, only six, the winning hurdler will know more today.
Shetland Bus (GER) 9-1 (11-2) Mid division, pushed along and struggling from 8th, pulled up after 2 out, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Bob's Bar (IRE) 10-3fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, ridden 2 out, no impression, 4th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Getaway Luv (11-4) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Dawn Raider (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, headway to go 2nd last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Mystical Clouds (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Bitasweetsymphony (IRE) 7-4 (10-8) Mid division, pushed along 6 out, headway on outside 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 4, 28l behind French Paradoxe (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Harry Du Berlais (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Always in rear, never involved, 3rd of 4, 35 1/4l behind Call Of The Wild (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar.