held up in touch behind leaders, closed before 10th, lost place 10th, well behind 4 out, pulled up before next
held up in touch behind leaders, tracking leaders when not much room 4 out, hanging left and stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 3rd flat
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, closed 11th, one pace and beaten from 3 out, took 4th post
led until 3rd, stayed handy, led before 4 out, clear from 2 out, comfortably
held up in rear, closed 11th, ridden before 4 out, lost 3rd and weakened flat
prominent, led 3rd, headed after 7th, led 8th until next, lost place after 11th
prominent, led after 7th, headed next, led 9th, headed before 4 out, soon weakened
held up, mistake 7th, well held 4 out
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, last and driven 10th, brief rally after 4 out, no impression
prominent until 4th, stayed in touch, 2nd 4 out, no impression on winner 2 out, stayed on same pace
NonRunner
Last Shot and Ray Diamond would both have a chance in this on their best form but are hard to catch right. WINSTON CHURCHILL (NAP) goes well fresh and is only 1lb higher than when making a winning reappearance under similar circumstances at Chepstow last season. He gets on well with Killian Moore and could be the answer to this ahead of winning pointer and hurdler Grand Gold. Only Gorgeous was winning for the first time under Rules here on New Year’s Day but has another 8lb to carry and Dance Floor King was easily picked off by Flaming Charmer here last month, though is undoubtedly well treated at present.
Grand Gold 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 2nd 3 out, led approaching 2 out until 2 out, every chance until the last, ridden and no extra run-in, 2nd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Walt (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Tolkeins Tango (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, hit 8th, not fluent next, lost place 10th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Headly's Bridge (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Towards rear, headway after 5th, lost place before 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Atirelarigo (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Dance Floor King (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Tracked leader until after 4th, went 2nd again 8th, led approaching 4 out, 3 lengths ahead 2 out, ridden and reduced lead when blundered and headed last, rider lost irons, no chance after, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Flaming Charmer (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Starkie 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, led 8th, jumped right 4 out, headed before next, no extra when left 2nd last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Special Wells (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Only Gorgeous (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, led 10th, made rest, clear 2 out, went left last, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Zanstra (11-11) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
Last Shot (FR) 17-2 (11-11) Led until 1st, tracked leader, pushed along before 7th, lost 2nd approaching 9th, dropped rear next, well beaten after, plugged on flat, 5th of 8, 18 3/4l behind Twenty Eight Guns (11-11) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Winston Churchill (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, took keen hold, closed 12th, upsides when mistake and left clear 3 out, 7 lengths ahead next, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Barton Gift (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Ray Diamond 5-1 (11-6) Led, driven after 9th, ridden and headed before 2 out, not much room and lost 2nd 2 out, rallied run-in, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Johns Luck (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Leg Lock Luke (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Held up in 4th, pushed along on long run before 3 out, bumped 3 out, ridden and no impression last, 4th of 7, 4l behind Jaunty Inflight (11-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Crown Hill (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, mistake 9th, not fluent next, stayed on flat, nearest finish, 5th of 14, 8 1/2l behind Goohar (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
