led until 4th, slow 8th, struggling 11th, weakened after 4 out
led into start, held up in 5th, outpaced after 9th, behind, modest effort before 4 out, modest 4th 3 out, jumped right last
prominent, not always fluent, led 5th, jumped right and reminder 7th, headed 7th, upsides winner last, stayed on, just held close home
in rear, behind before 10th, mistake next, pulled up before 2 out
held up in 4th, 3rd when mistake 9th, 2nd from 11th, led 3 out, hard pressed last, gained upper hand close home
prominent, not fluent 1st, led 4th, headed next, outpaced 3rd 4 out, well held next
A dire contest featuring a host of under-achievers. Red Penny might have been the selection were in not for the fact that she’s having a first run since October 2016 and is 0-14 under Rules. This looks too short for Burgess Dream but he’ll probably handle conditions better than most and is at the right end of the handicap. He has run 14 times over fences and has yet to win, however. The 3m trip was a legitimate excuse for VERY LIVE at Lingfield last time. Second at Towcester and Warwick earlier, he looks the one to beat despite jumping problems in the past. Flashman is likely warming up for a summer campaign.
Flashman 17-2 (11-7) Held up in last pair, struggling 5 out, never a threat, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Frank N Fair (10-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Red Penny (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Led, challenged before 2 out, ridden and pressed last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Prettylittlething (10-3) at Towcester 3m hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Very Live (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, stumbled 12th, lost 3rd next, soon ridden, weakened approaching next, behind and pulled up before 3 out, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Try Catch Me (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) (tt) in tch til wknd 3 out, 5th of 7, 30 1/2l behind Little Legend (12-0) at Penshurst 3m gd in Mar.
Burgess Dream (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, mistake 4th, never a factor, 8th of 10, 26 1/4l behind Darius Des Bois (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Wish In A Well (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led 8th, headed next, led again before 11th, jumped badly right and headed 4 out, soon lost place, 6th of 7, dist behind Grand Introduction (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp (5) sft in Feb.
