held up in rear, pushed along after 4th, struggling next, tailed off
in touch, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
pressed leader, led approaching 2nd, made most after that until headed approaching 2 out, rallied flat, stayed on well towards finish, just failed
keen early, in touch, ridden and hanging left after 3 out, led last, all out towards finish, just held on
held up in rear, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 6th or 7th, headway soon after, outpaced 3 out, rallied between last 2, no impression last
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, led before 2 out, headed and hit last, kept on same pace flat
led until approaching 2nd, pressed leader, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, jumped slowly 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
A decent handicap hurdle that can go the way of MAGNIFICO ahead of Dance Island and Clyffe Hanger. David Evans's charge defied an absence of over three months to score at Exeter last time in conditions similar to today's and an 8lb rise in the ratings may not be sufficient to stop the winning run there. Prior to that victory the eight-year-old had scored a game success at Uttoxeter and so he arrives here in search of the hat-trick and can find it with another hard earned success. The selection does nothing but stay and Andrew Glassonbury will doubtless have to be at his strongest to drive the gelding home in front of a host of in-form contenders, headed by Dance Island who won over course and distance last time out. That 10 length success was perhaps made to look better than it was due to the second placed horse departing two from home but the feeling is that Ben Case's unexposed animal would have won anyway and although today's 11lb higher mark leaves the gelding with some improving to do this will be only his ninth start making that very possible. Clyffe Hanger finds himself racing off a 7lb higher mark than last time despite having finished second, however that effort reads very well given the unexposed profile of the winner and Harry Skelton's mount has been running consistently well since returning in October, placing on all three starts. The nine-year-old was eventually well held by our selection on his penultimate outing though and a mere 1lb pull in the weights shouldn't change the result this time. Jonjo O¿Neill's Chesapeake heads the list of dangers having been narrowly held off this mark last time. Today's longer trip should suit and he can surely win races off this rating, although this is very competitive and there may be other days for him, whilst My Friend Sandy makes his handicap debut off a reasonable mark following a maiden win. This promises to be a thorough test and we will side with proven stayer Magnifico to grind out a victory.
Two Miles West (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Soon chasing leaders, dropped rear when jumped slowly 6th, behind after, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Trenchant (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway approaching 3f out, ridden next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 28l behind I'm The Decider (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Magnifico (FR) 4-1fav (11-2) Always prominent, led 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy beating Nemetan (10-11) by 5l, 15 ran.
My Friend Sandy 5-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 4th, chased leaders, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft beating Song Sung Blue (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Dance Island (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to lead 3 out, clear approaching last, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft beating Dream Alliance (11-0) by 10l, 10 ran.
Chesapeake (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Held up in touch, mistake 7th, went 2nd when blundered last, ridden and kept on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind River Logic (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Clyffe Hanger (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, strong challenge from 3 out, hung left approaching last, held towards finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind The Great Alfie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Macmar (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, every chance approaching 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, 3rd of 14, 26l behind The Great Alfie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Silver Spinner 10-3fav (11-1) Held up, headway approaching 6th, challenged 4 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 10, 28l behind Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
