held up, chased leaders 4 out, ridden bypassing usual 3 out, rallied entering home straight, weakened approaching final flight, soon no chance with front pair, kept on final 110 yards
held up in rear early, travelled strongly from usual 3 out, joined leader 2 out, still restrained when led soon after final flight, asserted final 110 yards, impressive
led, set a strong early tempo, bypassed usual 5th, hit 6th but still maintained a slender lead, not fluent when joined 3 out, pushed along passing usual 3 out, ridden entering home straight, joined by winner 2 out, headed soon after final flight, kept on final furlong but always held
close up, pushed along after 4 out, briefly disputed 3 out (usual 4 out), reminders and soon ridden bypassing usual 3 out, soon lost ground gradually and weakened in home straight, finished detached
Riskintheground was well supported for a Ludlow handicap last month but never really looked like justifying market confidence and he could be vulnerable again here against WAY OUT, who races in this grade for the first time since chasing home the useful Iliko D’Olivate at Taunton on his hurdling debut. Much Too Dear has hinted at ability and is preferred to hurdling debutant Sam's Amour of the others.
Much Too Dear (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Prominent, outpaced 3 out, plugged on, not fluent last, 5th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Get Up Mush (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Feb.
Riskintheground (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 19 3/4l behind Quoi De Neuf (12-0) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Way Out (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Led until before 2nd, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, no chance when mistake 2 out, 6th of 9, 30 1/4l behind Love Is Golden (11-2) at Newbury 2m (3) gd in Feb.
Sam's Amour 40-1 (11-2) Led, disputed lead over 8f out, pushed along and headed over 3f out, faded over 2f out,, 11th of 18, 19 3/4l behind Goodtimecrew (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (5) gs in Feb.
