led, ridden after 4 out, headed 3 out, 3rd and beaten last
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, pushed along next, went 2nd on last bend, led 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, held flat
held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, closed 6th, not fluent next, weakened 2 out
tracked leader, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, mistake 2 out
held up in touch, closed last bend, challenged 3 out, led next, edged right flat, stayed on
Paul Nicholls sent out last year’s winner but Stradivarius Davis was most disappointing on his hurdles bow at Doncaster. Vodka All The Way has been getting closer but was tailed off when tried over 3m at Taunton in January, finishing more than 20 lengths adrift of Golden Sunrise who also struggles to see out the trip. Though two of the three career victories of DANCING SHADOW (NAP) have come over fences, his win over hurdles came here in November and he found the heavy ground against him on a more recent outing. Victor Dartnall’s nine-year-old doesn’t have a lot to find at the weights so gets the nod.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) With leader, led 3rd, headed narrowly 5th, lost place approaching 3 out, well held before next, plugged on to take remote 4th near finish, 4th of 8, 27l behind Lovenormoney (11-10) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Golden Sunrise (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) Tracked winner and pushed along at times, hit 7th and shaken up, pushed along and lost 2nd approaching 2 out, 3rd and held when mistake last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Reikers Island (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) sft in Mar.
Beyond Supremacy (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, weakened before 5 out, 10th of 13, dist behind Gunfleet (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Stradivarius Davis (FR) 6-1 (10-12) Not fluent and behind most of way, pushed along after 7th, lost touch before 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Oski (10-12) at Doncaster 3m (4) gd in Dec.
Vodka All The Way (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Held up, good headway on outside chasing leaders 3rd, went 2nd approaching 2 out, chased winner and challenged on extended run-in, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Holdbacktheriver (11-7) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.