held up in last pair, smooth headway approaching 5th, went 2nd well before 2 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, shaken up and clear approaching last, eased towards finish
chased leading pair until 3 out, went modest 3rd again well before next, kept on same pace
chased leader until well before 2 out, weakened into 4th soon after
in rear and strugggling when brought down 4 out
in touch, lost place 5th, never on terms after, tailed off
chased leaders until lost place before 5th, strugggling in last pair when fell heavily 4 out
led and raced keenly, joined 2 out, soon headed, chased winner, ridden and no impression before the last, kept on for clear 2nd
Itshard To No hails from a yard in outstanding form and should soon be adding to his victory when gained in Ireland though a 5lb rise for finishing second last time looks harsh. IVANHOE also suffered the same hike in the weights after his second place at Huntingdon but that was his first start since October and in receipt of 6lb from Kerry Lee's charge can go one better. Professor Emery hasn't been seen since completing a hat-trick on fast ground in August 2013 and may find this on the soft side after such a long absence but Cape Caster has run the occasional good race in better company since his maiden victory in December 2014.
Itshard To No (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 4th, blundered 3 out, hung left 2 out and from last, no impression on winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind The Gipper (11-11) at Ludlow 2m (5) hvy in Jan.
Cape Caster (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace between last 2, no impression from last, 5th of 8, 8l behind Zaidiyn (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Professeur Emery (FR) Evensfav (11-0) Led into start, made all, shaken up and in commad last, ridden out, won at Stratford 2m 1f (4) gf in Aug beating Monte Cavallo (11-6) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Ivanhoe 11-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 5th, went 2nd 2 out, driven and every chance flat, just held close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Fields of Glory (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Zarawi (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway on inside 4th, lost place before 3 out, last of 11, 29 1/2l behind Old Guard (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Masquerade (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Jumped left, tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 6th, lost place when not fluent next, weakened and pulled up before 4 out, at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Beau Bay (FR) 18-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd when mistake last, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 12 1/2l behind For Good Measure (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.