handy, led 3rd, ridden and headed before 3 out, gradually weakened
led narrowly, headed and remained prominent 3rd, pushed along home turn, pressed leader 2 out, soon ridden, every chance last, stayed on, held run-in
in rear, in touch, hit 7th and pushed along, plugging on when hit 2 out, went 3rd before last, never threatened
close up, steadied into 4th after 2nd, towards rear after 5th, shaken up after 7th, kept on same pace
chased leaders, not fluent 4 out, weakened tamely 3 out
pushed along from start in mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 1st
prominent, led before 3 out, soon pushed along, faced challenge 2 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on gamely run-in
Ballymagroarty Boy is only 1-24 and more exposed than some. He is only getting a pound from SPORTING ACE (NAP), who is overdue a handicap victory having placed three times so far. Gladiateur Allen has run well back over hurdles the last twice while the maiden Halifax was second at Market Rasen having a first run for new connections. Keable still has plenty of scope and makes his handicap debut so looks the pick of the remainder.
Gladiateur Allen (FR) 8-1 (12-0) Front rank, shaken up and lost ground when outpaced approaching 3 out, soon ridden along, rallied from 2 out, kept on towards finish but never on terms, 4th of 15, 16 1/4l behind Santos Blue (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Sporting Ace (IRE) 11-8fav (11-9) Chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, ridden hung left and went run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Top Of The Bill (12-0) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Ballymagroarty Boy (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Well off the pace in rear, closer in 5th after 12th, blundered and rider lost irons 4 out, unseated rider after next, at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Rocco (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Prominent, ridden to join leader 3 out, outpaced 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 15, 14 1/4l behind The Kniphand (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Keable (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Alternated 2nd and 3rd place, outright 2nd before 3 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, soon hung left under pressure, stayed on same pace run-in, well held, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Snipe (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn (4) gs in Feb.
Carlow Farmer (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division and pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Halifax (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Led, ridden 2 out, headed last, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Shighness (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
