held up in rear, headway tracking leaders 8th, went sharply right and lost place next, went right again next and 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
tracked leaders, led 3rd, until 9th, chased leader pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened soon after 3 out, 4th and beaten when bad mistake next, weakened into 5th before last
raced wide tracking leader, tracked new leader 3rd, led 9th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon lost 2nd, no extra in 3rd
raced keenly, waited with in rear, good headway tracking leaders at 4th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, came clear between last two, easily
held up in last pair, bad mistake 7th, headway from 4 out, 3rd next, stayed on into 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
led until hit 3rd headed and lost 2nd, chased leaders, lost place 4th, rallied on inside 5 out, weakened next, went remote 4th before the last
Hawthorn Cottage was probably flattered by his margin of victory at Warwick in the autumn and has struggled off higher marks since. Ecume Atlantique was pulled up on his reappearance so has a bit to prove but MONGOL EMPEROR (NAP) looked ready to open his account over the larger obstacles prior to resenting the fitting of cheekpieces at Wincanton. He’s still slipping down the weights and this wouldn’t be the most competitive of handicaps.
And The New (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Towards rear, slow jump 6th and behind, not fluent and reminders next, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, at Southwell 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Ecume Atlantique (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Midfield, lost place 8th, hampered 11th, edged left next, soon pulled up, at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Hawthorn Cottage (IRE) 22-1 (11-13) Pushed along and led, hit 14th, soon pushed along and headed, ridden after 3 out, ran on until no extra from before last, 4th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Taste The Fear (11-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Mongol Emperor (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, pushed along before 4 out, tailed off before 3 out, 4th of 6, 28 1/4l behind Calgary Tiger (10-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Twotwothree (IRE) 11-1 (12-2) Held up in 4th, plugged on in modest 3rd after 2 out, lost that placing close home, 4th of 7, 15l behind Rooster Cogburn (11-7) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) gd in Feb.
Est Illic (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 8th, weakened 4 out, jumped awkwardly next, 7th of 8, dist behind Real Stone (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
