held up in last pair, good headway out wide chasing leaders after 4 out, tracking leaders in well held 3rd when went right 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with leading duo
chased leaders, hit 4 out, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
jumped left and always behind, tailed off
raced bit wide, never closer than mid-division, towards rear and struggling before 4th, kept on and went modest 4th towards finish
chased leader, led before 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed last, headed and no extra inside final 100 yards
held up in mid-division, good headway went 2nd going well before 3 out, upsides last, soon ridden, led inside final 100 yards, stayed on well
raced wide in mid-division, closer tracking leaders 2nd, pushed along and lost place rapidly before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up quickly after 4 out
tracked leaders on inside, one pace and no impression in 4th from 3 out, weakened into 5th towards finish
led, headed and weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off
NonRunner
This looks a competitive maiden as a few of these have been knocking on the door. The Brass Man finished second here and at Lingfield last season and had a pipe-opener over fences in December. Wincanton runner-up Universal Secret looks to be on an upward curve but OPERATION MANNA would have gone very close at Sandown had his jumping been better and he’ll know more today. Huflower still has time on his side and Mister Marbles shouldn’t be far away again with Kim Bailey’s pair, Captain Rose and Imperial Hurricane, also worth a second look.
Almost Gotaway (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Mid-division, niggled along 4f out, ridden over 3f out, no extra 2f out, 5th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Knowwhentoholdem (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (5) hvy in Oct.
Captain Rose 33-1 (11-0) Midfield, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and plugged on one pace from 2 out, 5th of 13, 28 1/2l behind Trelawne (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Hesque De L'isle (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Towards rear, bit closer when jumped slowly 4th, some headway before 2 out, never involved, 6th of 10, 10 3/4l behind At A Pinch (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Imperial Hurricane 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not much room 1st or 2nd, pushed along towards rear after 4th, closed next, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 9, 19 3/4l behind My Silver Lining (10-7) at Lingfield 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Light Em Up Nigel (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Raced in 4th, in touch, pushed along after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Notlongtillmay (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Jan.
Operation Manna 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, hit 1st, went right and hampered rival next, hung left paddock bend soon after, lost place at 4th, rallied out wide chasing winner on long run before 2 out, every chance when hit 2 out, hanging right when went right and hampered last, one pace, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Monviel (11-7) at Sandown 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
The Brass Man (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) In rear, struggling and pulled up before 6th, at Doncaster 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Universal Secret (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked front pair, joined leaders after 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed final 110 yards on run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Farmer's Gamble (11-5) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Feb.
Markmyword 300-1 (10-13) Jumped left at times, behind, mistake 6th, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out, at Taunton 2m mdn (4) gs in Feb.
Airtothethrone (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Led, mistake 4th, headed well over 2 out, rallied before last, pressed winner flat and kept on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Lydford Lad (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Huflower (FR) 11-4fav (11-4) Prominent, ridden to dispute lead approaching 2 out when fell, at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Mister Marbles (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Always handy, challenged 2 out, driven flat, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Lord Of Cheshire (11-6) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
