mid-division, went 4th and ridden approaching 2 out, slightly outpaced soon after, stayed on flat
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, hit 4th, went close 2nd soon after 2 out, soon ridden, 4th and beaten when hit last
held up last, smooth progress approaching 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, ridden and every chance flat, held near finish
travelled well for most of way, prominent, led 6th, battled on gamely when challenged last, driven out
led until 6th, with winner, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace approaching last
held up, steady progress 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on, went 4th flat
held up, headway 2 out, soon ridden, went 3rd approaching last, not pace of leading pair
held up, headway 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
in touch, headway 4th, outpaced 2 out, not in danger after
Ring The Boss may have been flattered by the margin of success because of the testing ground at Sandown last time but will not be inconvenienced by the good ground today and the Phillip Hobbs-trained gelding is taken to win again and complete a six-timer, getting the verdict over Jack The Giant and Roman Villa. The last mentioned was good value for his win at Musselburgh last month and has to be respected but a 9lb rise for that success is harsh is in the extreme. Sir Monty belied market odds when successful at Aintree last time and could have been let in lightly on his handicap debut today, while Tagula Blue seems a shade high in the weights judged by his reappearance run. Jack The Giant has been in good form over fences and looks well treated back over hurdles so has to be respected but Ring The Boss has obvious claims and is hard to oppose.
Tagula Blue (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, hit 4 out and 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 13l behind Mon Michel (10-4) at Newbury 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Mister Benedictine 18-1 (10-5) Tracked clear leader until left in lead 4 out, headed next, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Pigeon Island (10-7) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Lindop 5-2fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3 out, drew clear between last 2, hit last, easily, won at Lingfield 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Edgbriar (11-2) by 13l, 17 ran.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 7-4fav (10-0) Made all, clear last, drew clear flat, comfortably, won at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) hvy beating Breedsbreeze (10-13) by 5l, 13 ran.
Roman Villa (USA) 15-8fav (11-4) Mid-division, ridden 2 out, kept on to lead approaching last, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Folk Tune (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Jack The Giant (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Chased leader until 5th, blundered 6th and 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when blundered 2 out, last of 6, well behind Twist Magic (11-1) at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Sir Monty (USA) 66-1 (11-5) Made all, ridden 2 out, edged left when clear flat, won at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Nov beating Bremen (11-8) by 4l, 18 ran.
Wheelavit (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression, 11th of 17, 11l behind Mill House Girl (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Bremen 15-2 (11-8) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, chased winner from last, no impression, 2nd of 18, 4l behind Sir Monty (11-5) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Stellenbosch (USA) 2-1fav (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on flat, 3rd of 16, 3/4l behind River Logic (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Odiham 11-2 (9-10) Held up mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced, 9th of 15, 19l behind Souffleur (10-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
