chased leaders until 3rd, pushed along and towards rear from 8th, went remote 4th 3 out, never dangerous
towards rear, pushed along and behind from 3rd, soon struggling, tailed off
held up mid-division, mistake 2nd, reminder before 3rd, pushed along and behind from 10th, tailed and pulled up before
held up towards rear, soon tracked leaders, in 4th when blundered 10th, weakened and reminders before 13th
with leaders, led from 2nd, headed 11th, led agin 12th, headed 4 out, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, no extra before last
led to 2nd, soon towards rear, pushed along before 10th, soon behind, pulled up
tracked leader from 2nd, led 11th, headed 12th, led 4 out, pressed 2 out, kept on well before last
in touch, went 3rd from 13th, no impression
Blazing Diva is only a pound higher than when successful in this 12 months ago but recent efforts have left a lot to be desired. Bear Dancing, Minster Shadow and Mr Woods are also hard to fancy on this season's form while Dove Hill has yet to sparkle since joining Sheena Walton. Royal Mackintosh and Teenando boast a terrific strike rate on this track and it wouldn't be a surprise to see both in the firing-line, with the latter coming here off the back of a win over 2m4f here last month, but the vote goes to BILLSGREY. Willie Amos' grey is now 8lb lower than when second in this race last year and should be approaching peak fitness now.
Dove Hill (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Behind and ran in snatches, headway before 14th, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 22l behind Beamazed (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Bear Dancing (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Stumbled start, behind, reminders before 6th, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Playing The Field (11-3) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Minster Shadow 66-1 (11-6) Prominent, lost place after 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Beau Dandy (10-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Royal Mackintosh 4-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden before 5 out, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 10, 32l behind Overlady (10-8) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) With leader, led 2nd, headed narrowly 7th, jumped left 10th, lost place 13th, weakening when jumped slowly 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Playing The Field (11-3) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Teenando (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Led, headed 5 out, regained lead 3 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb beating Domoly (9-9) by 9l, 11 ran.
Mr Woods 5-1fav (10-11) Always towards rear, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Beau Dandy (10-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Billsgrey (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, tailed off 4 out, 4th of 7, 28l behind Knockando (11-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
