held up, weakened 4 out, behind from next
keen early, tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on flat
in touch, headway on long run to 3 out, hung right from 2 out, ridden to chase winner when hit last, kept on
held up, some headway 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace
led, clear 3rd, reduced lead 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace
always in rear
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened on long run to 3 out
Lady Bluesky was much improved on the Flat last year and was always travelling strongly when coming good over hurdles at Hexham last week. Alistair Whillans' mare is only 2lb higher here and has ground conditions in her favour again but we just prefer OUEST ECLAIR. He won a much stronger contest at Warwick 11 days ago and runner-up Rare Symphony franked the form at Kempton earlier this week. The others have little to recommend them on these terms.
Lago Verde (SWI) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until 5th, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 11, 42l behind Recession Proof (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Lady Bluesky 7-4fav (11-8) With leader, led 5th, clear last, kept up to work flat, won at Hexham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy beating Wheyaye (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Ouest Eclair (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Always prominent, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon led again, edged right approaching last, driven out, won at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Rare Symphony (10-8) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Lisbon Lion (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear and keen, pushed along after 4 out, soon struggling, 8th of 13, 26l behind Silverlord (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Twice Lucky 150-1 (11-4) In touch on outside, reminder after 4th, lost place when mistake 4 out and next, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Whoops A Daisy (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Stanley Bridge 40-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, in touch in 4th before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, well behind Bollin Felix (11-2) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Whatevertheweather 33-1 (10-0) Tracked leader on outer, ridden and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Decent Lord (10-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.