tracked leader, hit 4th, ridden to press leader when not fluent 2 out, not run on
slowly away keen held up in 4th, closed 3 out, ridden next, headway approaching last, led soon after last, ridden and ran on
led, hit 3 out and next, not fluent and headed soon after last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders until ridden soon after 3 out, weakened after next, not fluent last
Winning bumper BARDD has looked less than convincing over hurdles, finding little when asked, though he's now dropped to a more realistic handicap mark and this is such a poor contest he should get off the mark over timber. Mullaghboy showed a bit of potential in Ireland but finished a long way last of three on his debut for new connections here last month. Chilli Romance hasn't been running badly though in lower grade handicaps and Cocker has yet to win in 15 starts and mainly been beaten a long way.
Bardd (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, one pace when not fluent 2 out, went narrow 4th last, no impression with leaders, 4th of 15, 12 1/4l behind Brown Bear (10-13) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Mullaghboy (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Keen tracked leading pair, blundered 3 out, soon beaten, last of 3, dist behind Momella (10-11) at Fakenham 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
Chilli Romance (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, bumped and went 2nd at the 2nd, led next, headed 6th, still every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 10, 5l behind Bollin Line (12-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Cocker 9-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear on inside, closed 6th, outpaced after next, well beaten from 3 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Theligny (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct.
