behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, under pressure 4 out, hard ridden to challenge approaching last, stayed on strongly, never reached winner
made all, not fluent last, hard ridden when pressed closing stages, all out
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge before 2 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened before next
mid-division, weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on well from 2 out, never on terms
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, weakening when blundered last
tracked leader, lost place 3 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
The in-form Aengus would have to be considered if running in this rather than a hot handicap at Uttoxeter yesterday. In his likely absence, we’ll take a chance that VERYGOODVERYGOOD can recapture his best form. He won here and also at Chepstow in November and is back in the right grade today. Never Equalled is also a previous course winner but hasn’t run over hurdles since April last year. Alf 'n' Dor opened his account over timber over track and trip at the start of the month but has been raised 5lb for that and Calculated Risk is only a plater nowadays. Russian Service has only won a maiden so far and that was over a shorter trip.
Russian Service 7-1 (11-12) Disputed 2nd, 2nd after 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Another Venture (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Verygoodverygood (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Towards rear, ridden and struggling 4th, headway under pressure to take modest 3rd when not fluent normal 3 out, no chance with winner, 3rd of 12, 30 1/2l behind Allee Bleue (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Never Equalled (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led narrowly after 6th until 8th, led again next, hit 10th, pushed along and headed 4 out, soon ridden, hit 3 out, no impression when dropped to 3rd approaching and hit last, 3rd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Dueling Banjos (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 3f (4) hvy in Mar.
Alf 'n' Dor (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, joined 2 out, soon ridden, slight lead when left with advantage last, edged right run-in, stayed on gamely near finish, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar beating Paddys Motorbike (11-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Audacious Plan (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until lost place 4th, towards rear and struggling 9th (water), tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Zarzal (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) With leader and keen, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, pulled up, at Newton Abbot 2m 2f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Deebaj (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, plugged on from next, 4th of 8, 10 3/4l behind King Uther (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Mar.
Mondello (GER) 10-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway after 3 out, weakened flat, 6th of 7, 9 1/4l behind Persian Delight (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Calculated Risk 11-2 (10-13) Took keen hold, held up in touch, pushed along after 4 out, headway under pressure in 4th 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 7, 4l behind Alf 'n' Dor (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Aengus (IRE) 4-5fav (12-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 5 out to chase leaders, led 2 out, clear last, kept on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Turtle Cask (10-11) by 10l, 7 ran.
Paddy's Field (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, pushed along and weakened 10th, tailed off next, 6th of 7, dist behind Fort Worth (12-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
