reached for 1st, held up in last pair, not fluent and reminder after 4th, headway 8th (water), went 2nd 10th until 12th, chased leaders, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway into remote 4th last
chased leaders, led 13th, hit next, ridden and 3 lengths ahead last, idled and driven run-in, always doing enough
raced keenly, led until 5th, chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, lost place before 13th, soon behind
held up in touch, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 2nd next, 3 lengths down when hit last, lost 2nd final 100 yards, kept on
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until 10th, slightly outpaced next, rallied 13th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened soon after
tracked leader, led 5th, hit 9th, headed 13th, chased winner until hit 2 out, 2nd again final 100 yards, closed on idling winner, always held
The Late Legend has already won five times this season, including over this course and distance last time. He’ll have to defy another hike in the weights but can’t be ignored. Gleno jumped poorly when on a hat-trick at Exeter last time while Igor may be in need of a confidence-booster having failed to complete twice this term. Minella Encore is having only a third run over fences having found only one too good at Kelso when last seen but his yard is not in the best of form. Fergal O’Brien’s stable can do little wrong at present, however, and OCEAN COVE is Paddy Brennan’s only booked ride. The nine-year-old has slipped to a very fair mark and there is a good chance that wind surgery will help him realise obvious ability. Eva's Oskar should also be capable of better while Glenduff needed the experience at Musselburgh.
Minella Encore (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-2) Tracked leader, pressed leader 12th, disputed the lead 13th, every chance 3 out and 2 out, ridden after 2 out, rallied well to press leader last, kept on when hard-ridden run-in, denied, denied dying strides, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Mahlervous (11-2) at Kelso 2m 7f (3) sft in Dec.
Eva's Oskar (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield 10th, awkward 11th, ridden to chase leaders before 4 out, blundered 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 8, 20 1/2l behind Lieutenant Rocco (10-12) at Ffos Las 3m (4) hvy in Feb.
Ocean Cove (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 12th, ridden approaching 4 out, steady headway 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 19 3/4l behind Cobolobo (11-10) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Igor 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 12th, blundered 5 out, ridden after next, lost 2nd and weakened, behind when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Glenduff (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Not fluent, prominent, lost ground after 4th, weakened after 12th, 5th of 6, 30 1/2l behind Gaelik Coast (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (3) sft in Feb.
The Late Legend 7-2fav (11-0) Raced keenly and jumped right almost throughout, tracked leader, led 3rd, made rest, jumped badly right and bumped runner-up 3 out and next, 2 lengths ahead last, all out to hold on, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Special Acceptance (11-8) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Gleno (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Mistakes towards rear, blundered and behind 14th, hampered 10th, modest headway run-in, 5th of 10, 32l behind Dawson City (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
