close up, led narrowly 5th, headed 7th, ridden after 2 out, chased winner approaching last, switched right run-in, kept on but no impression
handy, effort and headway into 2nd 8th, led before 2 out, good jump last, drifted left but stayed on well, always doing enough
chased leaders, ridden and lost ground 8th, soon well held
in rear, in touch, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace, never on terms
led, headed 5th, close up, ridden and weakened well before last
in rear, ridden and reminders 6th, lost touch 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led narrowly after 7th, headed before 2 out and ridden, gradually faded approaching last
This looks fairly open but Mr Washington and Grooveur have both been beaten a long way the last twice. The better ground may suit Bean In Trouble, however, and he appears to hold Mr Harp on collateral form. Minella Buster was much improved at Plumpton around the turn of the year and Lord Of Kerak should be approaching peak fitness now after a couple of runs. MILAN BRIDGE (NAP) finished nine lengths behind Ree Okka, rated 130, at Kempton after scoring at Lingfield so an opening mark of 119 looks fair and he can make a winning start in handicaps.
Lord Of Kerak 6-1 (11-3) Towards rear, pushed along and headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Imphal (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Milan Bridge (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Mid-division, niggled along on occasions, mistake 5th and reminders, pushed along after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on but not pace to challenge, 4th of 8, 8 3/4l behind Ree Okka (11-4) at Kempton 3m 1f (3) sft in Jan.
Bean In Trouble 13-2 (11-4) Held up in midfield, ridden and lost ground before 4 out, rallied to chase leaders 3 out, modest 3rd before last, no extra, 3rd of 11, 18 1/2l behind Guillemot (10-5) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Mr Washington (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Held up, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, never a factor, last of 6, dist behind Silva Eclipse (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Minella Buster (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) In touch, pushed along last, ridden and headway entering straight, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Scarpia (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Mr Harp (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway 4 out, every chance briefly after 3 out, 3rd and beaten 2 out, no extra and dropped to 4th flat, 4th of 6, 11 1/2l behind In Rem (11-5) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Grooveur (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Pressed leader, led 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, no impression from 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 14, 19 1/4l behind Inishbiggle (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
