towards rear, last when blundered 6th, ridden before 7th, tailed off from 4 out, plugged on from 2 out
in rear, headway 5th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, lost place 4th and reminder, ridden towards rear after 5th, lost touch when jumped left 4 out, well beaten 3 out, one pace
prominent, close up 2nd, led before 3rd, headed 7th, dropped to 3rd 4 out, hard ridden to chase leader before 3 out, distant 2nd 2 out, kept on from last but no chance with winner
jumped left at times, led, headed before 3rd, led 7th, headed before 4 out, ridden and lost touch with leading pair 3 out, kept on one pace
NonRunner
Gortroe Joe was due to run at Leicester yesterday in a race in which Solomon Grey was a late withdrawal. This trip looks too short for the latter nowadays and he may need this with jockey bookings suggesting Marracudja, who is starting to look well treated, will be the pick of the Skelton trio ahead of Hatcher. Pingshou is another returning from a winter break and he is also better over further but HOLLYWOODIEN won this last year and may be poised for a repeat as he’s only 3lb higher and has run well in a light campaign this term. Financier went close off a similar mark at Chepstow in the autumn but has not reproduced that effort in subsequent starts.
Solomon Grey (FR) 15-8fav (10-11) Held up in midfield, smooth headway to chase leaders 5 out, upsides 2 out and quickened clear, stayed on strongly after last, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Buster Thomas (10-0) by 7l, 8 ran.
Hatcher (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Led, headed after 9th and soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Pingshou (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, closer in chasing group after 7th, went 2nd 11th until 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last 2, 5th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Present Man (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Hollywoodien (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Led on outside until 4th, led before 5th, soon headed, lost place before 4 out, eased and well beaten 2 out, 5th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Umbrigado (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Financier 17-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, fell 4th, at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Marracudja (FR) 10-3fav (11-7) Prominent, slow 5th, close up when not fluent 3 out, held in 3rd from next, stayed on flat, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Umbrigado (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Led until headed on long run before 2 out, weakened rapidly, 6th of 7, 31 1/2l behind Ajero (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
