tracked leaders, went left and not fluent 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
prominent, bumped 2nd, soon lost place, not fluent and driven 4th, soon lost touch, left remote 4th 2 out
led, ridden and headed 3 out, still upsides when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, pulled hard, closed 3rd, went 2nd next until ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, left 6 lengths 2nd 2 out, closed last, every chance flat, no impression and lost 2nd towards finish
held up in touch in mid-division, not fluent 1st, closed before next, led 3 out, driven when left 6 lengths clear 2 out, idled before last, pressed flat, pulled out more towards finish
in rear, not fluent 1st, jumped right and slow next, soon lost touch, slow again 3rd and pulled up after
prominent, took keen hold, ridden and outpaced when pecked 3 out, left 7 lengths 3rd 2 out, closed last, went 2nd and held by winner towards finish
Slaney Star must have some sort of chance in a very modest opener. Not for the first time, he found 2m4f beyond him at Wincanton last time but had only found one too good over this trip at Fakenham and Towcester earlier. To The Sky won a Newton Abbot maiden on fast ground last summer and drops into a seller for the first time. Richard Johnson rides and he must go well while the mare Kathleen Frances has the past form to figure. SCRIBE was beaten 23 lengths when second at Stratford last week but is lightly-raced over timber and a consistent stayer on the Polytrack. He may just be good enough today.
Scribe (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden before next, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 6, 23l behind Lamps (11-7) at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gs.
Sedgemoor Top Bid (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Not always fluent, chased clear leading pair, no impression when dropped to 4th before 3 out, kept on same pace, mistake last, 4th of 6, 18l behind Stow (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f sell hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Slaney Star (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Led, pushed along before 5th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 12, 46l behind Warsaw Pact (9-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
To The Sky (IRE) 6-5fav (10-7) Led, clear from 3rd until after 6th, headed when hit 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 6th of 11, 13l behind Great Link (11-3) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Karl Marx (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace before next, 4th of 11, 8l behind Be Bop Boru (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Feb.
Studfarmer 11-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, mistake 1st, jumped right and not fluent 2nd, soon close up, not fluent 5th, weakened before 5th, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Walter White (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Aug, 5 ran.
Fruity Bun 66-1 (9-9) Off the pace in 4th, hit 5th, went modest 3rd before 3 out, never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Stow (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f sell hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Cantor 20-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon lost place, 10th of 12, 10l behind Handsome Stranger (9-6) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb (flat).
Shays River (IRE) 200-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place 4th, behind and eased from after 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Gentleman Jon (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft.
Kathleen Frances 5-1 (11-4) Held up early, headway to chase leaders 3rd, ridden and weakened before 2 out, left in poor 4th at the last, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Slipper Satin (10-4) at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.