keen tracked leader, led 7th until 10th, dropped to rear 12th, pulled up before next
led first, headed 7th, led again 10th, headed 3 out, ridden to lead again next, headed last, kept on one pace
in touch, progress 14th, ridden 3 out, challenged to lead last, driven and headed post
in touch in rear, headway 11th, ridden 3 out, driven and stayed on towards finish
in touch in rear, headway 11th, ridden to lead 3 out, blundered and headed next, weakened last
led early, prominent, dropped to rear 10th, behind from 14th
in touch, closed 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, diven and rallied flat, stayed on to lead post
prominent, ridden and weakened 4 out
Magic Sky returned to form at Ascot but the handicapper has been a bit harsh with a 6lb rise. Acrai Rua was having only his fifth start over fences when runner-up to Balthazar King at Hereford where his jumping wasn't as good as it could have been. He likes fast ground and should do better but Dark Ben looks on a high enough mark with an 8lb rise since he scored from Go Silver Bullet at Musselburgh in February. SHERIFF HUTTON is a decent performer at this level and can take this from the same mark as when scoring on good ground at Kelso in November.
Sheriff Hutton (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, mistake 6th, reminders and lost place soon after, mistake 13th (water), behind when pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Junior (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar, 24 ran.
Bay Cherry (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Led until 4th, remained prominent, led again 6th, headed 3 out, soon under pressure and weakened, 6th of 12, 41l behind Eyre Square (10-12) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Storymaker 7-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 7th, led 2 out, ridden and headed before last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Pouvoir (11-1) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Magic Sky (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, headway approaching 15th, went 3rd next, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, led last, narrowly headed final 100 yards, rallied gamely to lead again last strides, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd beating Appleaday (10-6) by hd, 7 ran.
Checkerboard (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) In touch, went 3rd after 5th, went 2nd 9th, rider went wrong side of marker bypassing ommited 11th, pulled up after next, in a race won by Western Gale (10-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf, 6 ran.
Acrai Rua (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leading duo, hit 10th, not fluent 12th, pecked 15th, went 2nd next, hit 3 out and driven, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 4l behind Balthazar King (11-12) at Hereford 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs in Mar.
Go Silver Bullet (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 12, 27l behind Texas Holdem (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) sft in Mar.
Leac An Scail (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened before 14th, 6th of 10, 39l behind Garleton (9-13) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Dark Ben (FR) 11-4 (10-9) Led and a tendency to jump right throughout, ridden and headed before 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 23l behind Rambling Minster (10-13) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
