in touch, went 2nd before 6th, ridden before 3out, weakened before last
led, soon clear, fell 5th
held up mid-division, took closer order from 5th, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last
held up in touch, reminders after 5 out, tailed off before 3 out
tracked leader, led 4 out, soon headed, every chance last, held towards finish
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, led after last, held on towards finish
in rear, hampered 5th, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace
held up behind, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept run-in
towards rear, mistake 3rd, brought down 5th
held up in touch, left in lead 5th, headed 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, headed after last, kept on same pace
A few of these probably have a bit to prove now but not so BLACK IVORY (NAP), who was always travelling best when landing one of these qualifiers last time at Warwick. A 6lb rise may not be enough to halt his winning run. Arthur's Gift has just been looking in the handicapper’s grip recently but should run his race again. Theo's Charm wouldn’t be winning out of turn but probably need to drop a few pounds and the novice Tommy Rapper is still not convincing, despite a couple of morale-boosting wins. Noble Robin, another hat-trick seeker, has more scope than the latter while the step up to 3m should be a plus for De Rasher Counter.
Shantou Bob (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Led, headed 5th and raced in 2nd after, not fluent 8th and 9th, 3rd approaching 2 out, soon no extra, tailed off, 10th of 16, dist behind Total Recall (10-4) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Feb.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Keen to get on with it, led until headed after 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
De Rasher Counter 20-1 (11-5) Held up behind, headway under pressure 2 out, ridden to chase front pair between last 2, 3rd and held when fell last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Splash of Ginge 6-1 (10-11) Prominent, lost place 10th, behind 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Theo's Charm (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Prominent, pushed along after 3 out, every chance 2 out, held from last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Fourth Act (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Tommy Rapper (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) In touch, headway 3 out, led on bit before last, pushed clear, easily, won at Towcester 2m 5f (4) sft in Feb beating Sergeant Brody (11-4) by 20l, 6 ran.
Arthur's Gift (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden before 3 out, one pace before 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 8, 15l behind Taj Badalandabad (10-1) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Isaacstown Lad (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Chased leaders, pushed along briefly after 8th, 2nd from 3 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 32 1/2l behind Top Ville Ben (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Black Ivory 5-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd before next, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Sykes (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Noble Robin (IRE) 5-2 (11-13) Close up, led before 6 out, ridden after last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Jan beating Silva Eclipse (11-13) by 7l, 9 ran.
Bialco (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up, not always fluent, struggling after 4 out, went modest 3rd close home, 3rd of 4, 26 1/4l behind Le Rocher (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (2) hvy in Jan.
