tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, challenged 3 out, kept on from last to take 3rd place towards finish
led, blundered 3rd, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out
in rear, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, kept on from last
held up towards rear in 6th, headway before 3 out, chance last, kept on to take 2nd place run-in
tracked leader, every chance 3 out, weakened after next
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last
in touch, headway on outer before 3 out, ridden and every chance before last, no extra run-in, lost 3rd place near finish
Nonrunner
Alex Dunn did well to get Helium back up at Taunton 12 days ago but that was over 2m4f and he's 6lb higher now. Thundering Home and Extremely So were both well beaten, however, and will struggle to reverse the form. WAS MY VALENTINE is still a maiden but was beaten less than a length at Newbury last month and was also second at Huntingdon in February. With Jack Savage claiming 10lb, he might just be worth an interest here with Union Saint getting little respite from the handicapper and Gizzit a pound higher than when beaten 11 lengths over course and distance two weeks ago when Cottage Acre finished fifth.
Helium (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Pulled hard, chased leader, led before 4th, clear approaching 6th, headed soon after 2 out, rallied last, led again flat, pushed along and stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating No Likey (10-12) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Faha (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, struggling 6th, bad mistake 8th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Fulgora (10-1) at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Union Saint (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division on outside, chased leaders on long run between last 2, effort when not fluent last, no extra flat, 5th of 13, 9l behind Decimus (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Thundering Home 8-1 (11-2) Held up well in rear, went badly left 7th, moderate headway before last, never remotely involved, 6th of 13, 23l behind Helium (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Was My Valentine 20-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, challenged 3 out, led before next, mistake last, headed and bumped slightly flat, stayed on towards finish, held close home, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Supreme Bob (11-0) at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (0-120) (4) hvy in Mar.
Gizzit (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up in last pair, headway on outside before 3 out, went 2nd next, kept on same pace, no impression with winner, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Look For Love (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Cottage Acre (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, close up in 2nd at 3rd, led after 4 out, soon ridden, headed before 2 out, no impression in 3rd before last, weakened flat, 5th of 10, 23l behind Look For Love (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Extremely So 12-1 (11-4) In touch on inside, lost place 6th, plugged on from 2 out, never on terms after, 7th of 13, 25l behind Helium (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Lady Bridget 10-3 (10-12) Led, pushed along and headed before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 6l behind Nicene Creed (11-6) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Mar.