tended to jump left, made virtually all, ridden between last 2, hard pressed last, held on gamely flat
tracked leading pair, blundered and lost place 8th, driven to chase front pair again 4 out, disputed 2nd when blundered 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner flat, held when lost 2nd towards finish
tracked winner, ridden after 3 out, kept on and every chance last, no extra in 4th final 50 yards
held up in rear, headway into 3rd 8th until 4 out, soon behind and outpaced, rallied last, ran on well towards stands side rail final 100 yards, gaining on winner near finish, just held
Pay The King is the only one of these without a course-and-distance victory but he's only run four times over fences and showed a bit more promise at Sedgefield last time. His stable look to have a better chance with VERKO, who gained his fourth victory over fences when defying a bad mistake at Sedgefield. With his young rider's claim a bonus he's taken to continue his progress and land this. Swing Hard had Tipsy Dara just over two lengths behind here last month and should be capable of confirming the form with that rival who is slowly finding his feet after a very long lay-off.
Swing Hard (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led when went left 2nd, made rest, hard pressed last, soon ridden, stayed on well final 50 yards (4 fences omitted), won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Tipsy Dara (10-2) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Verko (FR) 7-4fav (10-6) Held up well in rear, 7 lengths detatched at 5th, blundered 9th, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, led before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Feb beating Finea (11-2) by 1l, 5 ran.
Tipsy Dara (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Led, headed when carried left 2nd, pressed winner, pushed along 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden after 2 out (usual 3 out), kept on and every chance last, no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Swing Hard (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Pay The King (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, took closer order 5 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 9 3/4l behind Notonebuttwo (10-7) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar.