tracked leader, led 2 out, clear next, ran on
mistakes, led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat and lost 2nd
towards rear, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up next
close up, pushed along and lost place 6th, not a factor after
in touch, some headway 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on to go 2nd flat
towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
in rear, ridden and weakened 3 out
One or two may improve on efforts to date, notably Large Action and Any Job Will Do, but this looks a straight battle between the penalised pair. Neither has yet encountered the forecast good to soft ground with all starts having come on deeper conditions and there's little to choose between them but we'll go with WETLANDS, despite the concession of 6lb to his main rival. He definitely looks open to further progression on the evidence to date and has been handled by Nicky Richards with typical patience. Karl Philippe had been in useful and progressive form until pulling up at Sandown last month in a hot contest and he's a big danger.
Wetlands (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Chased leaders, jumped right 4th, hit 2 out, led before last, clear flat, comfortably, won at Newcastle 2m 4f (3) sft in Feb beating Lord Of Kerak (11-4) by 4 3/4l, 5 ran.
Karl Philippe (FR) 5-1fav (11-9) Mid-division on inside, hit 4 out, pushed along and outpaced after next, soon beaten, pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Any Job Will Do (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, took closer order after 3 out, ridden next, kept on one pace from last, 4th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Bollingerandkrug (10-12) at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Emory 150-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hampered 2nd, dropped to midfield before next, pushed along before 4th, in rear and struggling from 5th, 8th of 12, dist behind Word Has It (11-6) at Kelso 2m (4) gd in Mar.
Large Action 33-1 (11-4) In rear, pushed along and headway before 2 out, kept on at one pace after last without threatening, 4th of 6, 17l behind Brayhill (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Our Percy (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, 6th of 11, 32 1/4l behind Jante Law (11-1) at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Stowaway John (IRE) 80-1 (11-1) Towards rear, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on closing stages but well held, 8th of 11, dist behind Jante Law (11-1) at Hexham 2m (4) sft in Mar.
It's A Lily 150-1 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and detached 3 out, kept going but never closer closing stages, 6th of 10, dist behind Blue Hawaii (10-12) at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Mar.
