mid-division, headway when not much room 11th, went 2nd flat, stayed on, not quite able to get to winner
led, headed before 3rd, hit next, lost place approaching 3 out, well beaten 2 out
jumped slightly left at times, prominent, challenged 4 out, switched right after 2 out, 4th and beaten last, one pace
jumped left in rear, pushed along after 1st, slow 2nd, mistake 8th, well behind 11th, tailed off
chased leaders on outside, not fluent 9th, hit 11th, soon lost place, tailed off
towards rear, last 7th, ridden next, some headway 11th, weakened before 4 out
prominent, not fluent 1st, led before next, headed 2 out, kept on, 3rd and no extra close home
held up in touch, close 3rd going well before 3 out, led 2 out, hung left flat, driven out
Nigel Twiston-Davies has won both previous renewals and this year relies on Crievehill. The top weight beat the re-opposing Aloomomo by 20 lengths at Sandown three weeks ago, with Masterplan even further behind, though conditions undoubtedly played a part that day and he’s gone up 9lb. Creep Desbois arrives in good form having only been beaten a nose at Leicester after winning at Fakenham but ORBASA (NAP) benefited from stronger handling at Kempton two weeks ago and the handicapper is finally starting to relent a little. With rain forecast, his ability to stay a bit further than this could be an asset. Native Robin may be the pick of the remainder.
Crievehill (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-12) Held up, raced keenly, headway 8th, challenged from 13th, led when not fluent 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Aloomomo (11-6) by 20l, 7 ran.
Creep Desbois (FR) 5-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, challenged 3 out, led last, headed post, 2nd of 6, shd behind Colin's Brother (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Orbasa (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway 11th, chased leaders 4 out, pushed along in 3rd before next, outpaced between last 2, 4th and kept on run-in, 4th of 10, 4 3/4l behind Cepage (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Twenty Eight Guns 5-2 (11-12) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed after 5th, driven to challenge before 3 out, weakened after next, last of 4, 15 1/2l behind Enjoy Responsibly (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Aloomomo (FR) 3-1jfav (11-6) Held up, not fluent 5th or 7th, headway 8th, 3rd and one pace 2 out, went 2nd just after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 20l behind Crievehill (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Native Robin (IRE) 7-4 (11-2) Led, not fluent 2nd, headed 3rd, mistake 5th, lost 2nd 7th, beaten before 3 out, dropped to 4th 2 out, last of 4, 11 1/4l behind Silverhow (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Masterplan (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Prominent, mistake 8th, led 10th, headed 2 out, no impression on winner when not fluent last, soon lost 2nd, 3rd of 7, 25l behind Crievehill (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Amber Gambler (GER) 5-1 (11-7) Towards rear, pushed along before 7 out, chased leaders 5 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, 30 1/2l behind Shanroe In Milan (11-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.