led 2nd, headed after 5th, hit 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden along from 6th, outpaced next, rallied before 4 out, well held after 3 out
ran in snatches in last, not fluent 5th, went 4th after 3 out, hit 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
led until 2nd, led after 5th, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon beaten, lost 2nd last
took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, led after 3 out, soon clear, hit last, very easily
Withdrawn
Course winner Sagalyrique won at Ayr and Doncaster in January but the handicapper has held the upper hand since. Soulard's recent efforts don't inspire much confidence while Oscar Royal hasn't been seen since finishing second in a less competitive affair at Stratford last July. Chicago Alley was pulled up when having a pipe-opener over hurdles last month but could do better here and Just Smudge is back on a winning mark, though has now failed to complete in his last three starts. RACKHAM LEROUGE was a tailed-off last of three over today's C&D in February but that was only his third start over fences and the top weight should enjoy more luck now tried in handicaps.
Rackham Lerouge (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Took keen hold early, held up 3rd and last, outpaced after 4 out, no chance with front pair from next, tailed off, last of 3, well behind Wymott (11-8) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Sagalyrique (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Behind, mistake 1st, pecked badly 9th, mistake 2 out, never dangerous, 10th of 30, 45l behind Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd.
Soulard (USA) 8-1 (11-10) Led, not fluent 6th, not fluent 6th, blundered 8th, ridden before 11th, headed 12th, weakened next, left disputing modest 4th and badly hampered on inside 3 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 8, well behind Bedarra Boy (10-11) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Oscar Royal (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Led until 7th, led 9th until 11th, soon led again, headed before 3 out, soon led again, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 6l behind City Heights (11-9) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Jul.
Chicago Alley 13-2 (11-9) Took keen hold, chased leaders, jumped slowly and weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Speedy Directa (10-2) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Just Smudge 50-1 (10-0) Held up, behind 10th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Prince De Beauchene (10-5) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd, 15 ran.
