pressed leader, ridden and lost 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied after last, ran on well to lead towards finish, won going away
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, driven 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, challenged 2 out, led, edged left and looked awkward bend after last, soon headed, no extra towards finish
in rear, jumped slowly, gave up after 4th and pulled up
mid-division, jumped slowly 5th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
mid-division, effort 3 out, ridden next, no impression after last
mid-division, outpaced when mistake 5th, rallying on outside when mistake last, no impression after
made most until headed and not much room bend after last, weakened final 100 yards
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, led bend after last, headed towards finish
Trip and ground look ideal for SACRILEGE, who is best off at the weights here and taken to win this seller at the main expense of Dunaskin and Applaude. The last-named won a soft ground seller over a similar trip at Leicester in November, but can act on faster ground and comes here after a couple of pipe-openers on the Flat, following a break of four months or so. We anticipate a better effort back in this grade over hurdles and he is respected. Dunaskin has won three of his last four starts, two Fibresand sellers and then a selling hurdle last time. Although most of his recent good form has been on slower surfaces he did win on fast ground earlier in his career and so should not be inconvenienced. He can go close. Calculaite will love these conditions, but has a bit to find at the weights, though this should be easier than some of his recent runs. Preference then is for Sacrilege. Michael Chapman's five-year-old is clearly best in at these weights, he stays at least this far, and acts well on good to firm. This is far easier than recent races he has contested over hurdles and he can take full advantage.
Dunaskin (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Mistake and rider lost iron 1st, chased leaders, reminders and hung right after 2nd, ridden and outpaced 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd and still plenty to do before last, finished well flat, led going away towards finish, won at Hexham 2m sell hdl (5) gs beating Prioryjo (10-8) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Calculaite 9-1 (11-11) Led to 6th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, well behind Seeyaaj (11-1) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Danny Zuko (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 6th, never dangerous, last of 10, 39l behind Dishdasha (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Sacrilege 100-1 (9-11) Refused to race, in a race won by Mamlook (10-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan, 17 ran.
Three Ships 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 8, 30l behind Stage Acclaim (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs.
Turbo Shandy 11-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 5th, chased leading pair approaching 2 out, weakened before last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 11, 14l behind Nono Le Sage (9-13) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Woody Valentine (USA) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place and dropped rear after 4th, outpaced 2 out, ridden and rallied between last 2, weakened last, 5th of 6, 18l behind Along The Nile (11-8) at Hexham 2m sell hdl (5) gd.
Josephine Malines 7-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, outpaced on long run to last, never on terms, 5th of 10, 28l behind Dunaskin (11-1) at Hexham 2m sell hdl (5) gs.
Lets Go Girls 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, not fluent 5th, some headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Mister Pete (10-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Feb.
Applaude 11-2 (11-4) Keen, held up in rear, took closer order 4th, ridden and weakened next, 4th of 6, 40l behind Mickmacmagoole (11-10) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Shinkansen (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-ddivision, 10th 4 out, no impression from next, 9th of 15, well behind Vivaldi (11-5) at Sligo 2m 2f 5yo mdn hdl gd.
