tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd next, led last, all out
held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistakes 3rd and 5th, headway after 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, not fluent next, weakened approaching last
mid-division, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, not fluent 5th, ridden after 7th, headway 2 out, mistake last, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish
prominent until ridden before 6th, behind next
mid-division, jumped right 3rd, headway 6th, went 2nd after next, 3rd when not fluent 2 out, unable to quicken flat, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, led approching 4th, blundered 7th, edged left and headed, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up, mistake 2nd, ridden after 7th, never on terms, awkward and well beaten 2 out
led until before 4th, mistake next, not fluent 6th, led after 7th, mistake 3 out, headed last, stayed on
tracked leader until after 3rd, stayed handy, 5th 3 out, weakened next
Another competitive handicap and Fourth Estate will do well to maintain his unbeaten record under Rules, though Barry Geraghty's presence in the saddle suggests he's the stable pick ahead of Kings Lodge. Persian Snow is beginning to get his act together but Grandads Horse may be in the handicapper's grip now and Vintage Star has gone up 4lb since scoring narrowly at Market Rasen, though Jonathan England claims 7lb and he still looks a better bet than stable companion Pinerolo. SYDNEY PAGET faces his toughest task to date but looks a really nice prospect and, whatever happens today, will be worth following once his attentions are turned to fences next season. He gets the nod as this test may be beyond the four-year-old Chadford and Dizzy River.
Grandads Horse 12-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, closed 2 out, pressing leaders before last, no extra towards finish, 6th of 24, 4 1/2l behind Attaglance (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Sydney Paget (IRE) 1-2fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Higgs Boson (11-4) by 4l, 6 ran.
Persian Snow (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway to track leaders 4 out, challenged next, led 2 out, headed last, ridden and kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Lava Lamp (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Vintage Star (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) In lead and jumped left from 4th, hit 9th, hard ridden and stayed on most gamely flat, (no time taken), won at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Phare Isle (11-6) by nk, 9 ran.
Kings Lodge 16-1 (11-0) Behind, weakened from 3 out, 14th of 18, well behind Ambion Wood (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f NH Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4-7yo) (1) gs in Mar.
Fourth Estate (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Held up behind, headway on outer from 3rd, ridden before last, kept on to lead final 100 yards, won at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Mar beating Netherby (11-4) by 1l, 7 ran.
Chadford 12-1 (11-8) Prominent, lost place 5th, behind after next, 7th of 10, 17l behind West Brit (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Dizzy River (IRE) 3-1fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Pinerolo (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Pinerolo 9-2 (10-11) Always prominent, led 6th, driven clear approaching 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on well, eased near finish, won at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Dizzy River (11-10) by 5l, 8 ran.
Eyre Apparent (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, pushed along before 8th, soon struggling, 7th of 13, 38l behind Hada Men (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Mar.
