prominent, led 2 out, ridden and ran on, comfortable
close up, ridden to go 3rd 2 out until approaching last, no extra
held up towards rear, awkward 2nd, behind from 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on to go 3rd at last, not trouble leaders
close up, ridden and weakened 2 out
in rear, ridden 3 out, never on terms
held up, rider dropped rein approaching 5th and pulled up
led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace
SWAFFHAM BULBECK, only caught in the final strides when favourite for a similar contest over track and trip in January, looks the obvious answer to this but hurdling debutant Country'n'western could be a danger as he’s been in good form on the all-weather over the winter. Arch My Boy was just beaten in a bumper here a year ago and won later on the Flat while Zanzi Win has hinted at ability over timber and has had wind surgery since last in action.
Arch My Boy 25-1 (9-5) Dwelt and went right start, headway to lead after 1/2 furlong, headed 6f out, chased leader, pushed along over 3f out, lost 3rd and weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 22 3/4l behind Aircraft Carrier (9-0) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f stks (2) pol in Jan.
Country'n'western (FR) 2-1fav (9-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Purple Rock (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Joey Steel (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Off the pace in 5th, weakened 4 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Monsieur D'Arque (11-4) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Mount Cleshar 66-1 (11-4) In touch, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and behind, tailed off next, 11th of 14, dist behind Betameche (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Swaffham Bulbeck (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Close up, tracked leaders 6th, chased leader 2 out, led approaching last, headed final strides, 2nd of 10, shd behind Havana Hermano (11-5) at Fakenham 2m mdn (4) gd in Jan.
Welland 66-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, modest 7th after 3 out, well beaten next, 9th of 14, 22 3/4l behind Scarlet Dragon (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Deise Bless (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, soon led, headed 3rd, in touch, lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Velvet Voice 22-1 (9-2) Dwelt, always behind, weakened final furlong, 14th of 16, 25 1/4l behind Prerogative (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (7) pol in Jan.
Zanzi Win (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 8, 16 1/2l behind Petit Palais (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Jan.