inclined to be not fluent, held up 3rd, chased winner and ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten
chased leader, jumped right 6th, led 3 out, clear 2 out, not fluent last, very easily
led to 3 out, pushed along and weakened approaching 2 out
held up last, lost touch from 7th, tailed off
Maiden hurdle winner Lomachenko was still thereabouts when badly hampered at Kempton on his handicap debut and eased down. It remains to be seen how he fares on his return to action racing on soft ground for the first time and COPPER GONE WEST makes more appeal. The latter also won a maiden race before just missing out in a handicap at Newbury recently and Tim Vaughan’s charge should make another bold bid with the remainder harder to recommend. A tongue-tie is applied to Bee Crossing back in a handicap for the first time since finishing third at Exeter over a year ago while Opera Rock has his first start since 2016 and Cape Fair debuts under Rules.
Lomachenko (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Held up in 5th place, not fluent 5th, pushed along when badly hampered and left in 3rd place briefly 3 out, not recover, weakened and eased, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Bailarico (11-8) at Kempton 3m 1f (3) gd in Jan.
Copper Gone West (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, went 2nd approaching the last, ridden to challenge and hung left run-in, no extra close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Jabulani (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Bee Crossing 9-4 (10-12) Led, joined 2 out (usual 4 out), ridden and headed after last (usual 3 out), soon lost place, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Peters Cousin (10-12) at Kelso 2m 5f (4) gs in Dec.
Cape Fair 6-1 (11-7) Hdwy aft 13; cl 4th when fell 16, at Edgcote 3m mdn gs in Jun.
Opera Rock (FR) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, took keen hold, tracked leaders before 4th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
