tracked leader, hit 2nd, led 10th, not fluent and joined last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, clear 2nd
waited with off the pace in rear, closer after 11th, 3rd 5 out, 2nd before 3 out, upsides last, led run-in, soon clear
tracked leading pair, went left at 6th, lost 3rd 8th, chased leading trio, weakened before 5 out where mistake, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
raced keenly, led, clear when hit 5th, reduced lead headed 10th, lost 2nd before 5 out, weakened quickly, tailed off
PINK EYED PEDRO won a Class 2 handicap over track and trip in 2020 and finished runner-up in last year's Topham. He didn't run badly in that race a fortnight ago while Financier is 7lb lower than when scoring at Hereford last March and hasn't had much racing subsequently. Dublin Four has failed to complete in two out of three starts since landing a Newbury handicap in November while L'Air Du Vent has been disappointing since his only victory over fences at Exeter in 2020. Commis D'Office, who looked one to follow when a close second at Newbury, ran poorly in a lower-grade handicap at Newton Abbot.
Pink Eyed Pedro 25-1 (10-0) Midfield, short of room 1st, awkward 3rd (chair), headway 6th, chased clear leader 11th (foinavon), took closer order 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace from last, 6th of 29, 22 1/4l behind Mac Tottie (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Financier 17-2 (11-11) Held up, not fluent 8th, pushed along and struggling approaching 3 out, never in contention, last of 4, 9 1/2l behind Torpillo (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Dublin Four (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Close up in rear, good headway when landed awkwardly 4 out and unseated rider, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
L'Air Du Vent (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, struggling and detached from leaders 3 out, plugged on from 2 out for distant 3rd, 3rd of 7, 13 3/4l behind Kap Auteuil (12-0) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Commis D'Office (FR) 2-1jfav (11-9) Disputed lead, headed 3rd, steadied to race in rear, lost ground 9th, not fluent 10th, minor headway 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 25 1/2l behind Vinnie The Hoddie (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar.