held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
prominent, lost place and reminders after 5th, not fluent 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led until after 4th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, smooth progress on inside 6th, hit 7th, every chance 3 out, hit 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last
always going well, led on bit after 2 out, clear last, easily
held up in touch, pushed along and weakened 3 out
prominent, led after 4th until approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, rallied and went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
always behind, lost touch from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, reminders approaching 7th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 3 out
Truckers Lodge is having only his third start for Paul Nicholls and finished a lot closer at Worcester last time. But both wins so far have been on good ground and Diablo De Rouhet is preferred on his maiden hurdle success in testing going here earlier this year. Anteros didn't get very far in Listed company at Cheltenham before falling though has a chance on an a fourth at Newton Abbot in October but POKER PLAY makes most appeal. The latter has his second start after wind surgery and is expected to improve on a comeback third at Worcester. David Pipe's charge was placed in a higher grade over track and trip in February and a similar effort should see him bang there at the finish today.
Anteros (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Held up in touch on outside, fell 4th, at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Poker Play (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, not fluent 6th, jumped left 8th, ridden after 12th, one pace and beaten 3 out, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Allelu Alleluia (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Mercenaire (FR) 12-1 (10-7) In rear and jumped slow, tailed off before 5 out, 5th of 6, dist behind The Russian Doyen (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) gd in Nov.
Diablo De Rouhet (FR) 200-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden after 2 out, never involved, 11th of 14, 37 1/4l behind Samcro (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Truckers Lodge (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Monty's Award (10-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
On The Road (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Pressed winner until after 5th, pushed along next, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next, last of 5, dist behind Captain Cattistock (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Braventara 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, ridden before 4 out, outpaced and well beaten from next, 5th of 7, 11l behind Solstice Star (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Falcons Fall (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 11, 22 1/4l behind Flashjack (11-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Zephyros Bleu (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Raced keenly, chased leading pair, weakened into modest 4th after 3 out, 4th of 5, 21 1/4l behind Winter Spice (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
