held up, headway and not clear run on bend approaching 8th, ridden and steadied progress from 3 out, led soon after last, driven out
tracked leaders, led 2nd until after next, chased leaders, ridden after 7th, weakened after next, held off
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, weakened before next
in touch, joined leaders 4th, led 6th, went left 2 out, ridden and went left last, soon headed, no extra
mid-division, hit 3rd, weakened after 7th, tailed off
mid-division until 8th, soon behind
always towards rear
mid-division until weakened 8th
prominent, led after 3rd until 6th, pressed leader, mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
led until 2nd, chased leaders until weakened 8th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
This is a distinctly moderate finale to the afternoon's action and, having run well in his last two starts, it is Arctic Shadow that gets the vote to open his account, getting the verdict ahead of Kisha King and Lets Get Busy. The last mentioned showed some promise in a first time visor last time and has claims with the headgear again left on. Peter Bowen's Gunnabelil is unexposed after just five starts but does need to improve to trouble the judge, while stable companion Fleur Babe has a nice racing weight but very few other positives about her. Baker's Girl has shown signs of ability as has Little Rort but of more interest may be Jim Best's Kisha King, who had shown improved form prior to a disappointing effort at Leicester last time. None of these can be backed with any great confidence but Arctic Shadow has more solid claims than anything else and he gets the verdict.
Arctic Shadow 15-2 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, hampered 2 out, stayed on, 4th of 16, 8l behind So Now (11-6) at Newbury 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Kisha King (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-11) Led, headed 5 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Charlies Double (11-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) gs in Feb, 17 ran.
Tirailleur (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, effort when not much room on inside after 8th, never near leaders, 6th of 14, 12l behind Lily Tara (11-8) at Stratford 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (5) gd.
Little Rort (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Mid-division when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Nick's Choice (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft, 16 ran.
Something Simple (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed approaching 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Honour High (10-12) at Fontwell 3m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Mialyssa 9-2 (10-7) Always behind, 6th of 14, 37l behind Finnegans Rainbow (10-10) at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.
Rich Nomad 11-2 (9-9) Towards rear, one-paced from 2 out, 6th of 11, 10l behind Double Mead (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Gunnabelil 20-1 (10-6) Led to 2nd, chased leaders until lost place 6th, soon beaten, 8th of 15, 28l behind No Greater Love (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Oct.
Gracialina (GER) 33-1 (10-3) Always in rear, mistake 2nd, lost touch 3rd and pulled up 4 out in race won by Ede's (10-8) at Plumpton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Fleur Babe 13-2 (9-9) Chased leaders until weakened after 7th, 7th of 11, well behind Whatcanisay (10-8) at Exeter 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Baker's Girl (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Led, jumped right 1st, headed 4th, led again after 6th, not fluent 8th, soon headed, weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 12l behind Lily Tara (11-8) at Stratford 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (5) gd.
Anty Wren 40-1 (10-8) Chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 24l behind Magical Wonderland (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Doctored 8-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 4th of 13, 12l behind Fair Dual (10-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
Lets Get Busy (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway from 8th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on, 4th of 15, 11l behind Khadija (11-3) at Taunton 3m mrs hcp hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Gotontheluckyone (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 11, well behind White On Black (11-9) at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) sft in Feb.