keen, close 3rd out wide, outpaced and dropped to last at 10th, fell next
jumped left at times, led, went left and hit 4 out, went left and hit 2 out, headed between last two, no extra
tracked leader, led between last two, clear last, stayed on well
close 4th on inside, went 3rd at 10th, outpaced and struggling before 3 out, no chance with leading duo
NonRunner
Drumconnor Lad is having a first run since May last year and hasn’t run in a handicap over fences since the end of 2021. BARTON KNOLL (NAP) is 3-5 around here but finished last in a couple of runs in November. However, he’s slipped to a very fair mark being 2lb lower than for his last win. On Springs looks short of confidence and Fakir also arrives in poor form but Sopran Thor will have needed last month’s run at Sandown.
Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 13-2 (12-2) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on run in, never reach leaders, 3rd of 7, 5 1/4l behind Frightened Rabbit (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp (3) gs in May.
Barton Knoll 6-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led after 8th, hit brush upright 9th, headed before 3 out, lost 2nd flat, weakened into last final strides, last of 5, 8 1/4l behind Mackenberg (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
On Springs (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) In touch, mistake 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 5 out, at Doncaster 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Fakir (FR) 10-1 (11-11) Prominent, pushed along 2 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 21 3/4l behind Shighness (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Sopran Thor (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Held up in touch in last trio, never really travelled, outpaced in 5th after 4 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 8, dist behind Certainly Red (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
