held up in touch in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, pushed along before 2 out, no impression, weakened before last
tracked leaders, ridden when not fluent 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
led after 1st, headed next, tracked leader, led again before 2 out, clear when hung left before last, ridden out
held up in touch in rear, took keen hold, headway 6th, chased winner 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner last, lost 2nd flat, one pace
led until after 1st, led 2nd until before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place after 6th, rallied and close up 2 out, weakened before last
Nonrunner
AP McCoy has been the primary beneficiary of the enforced absence of Jason Maguire at Donald McCain's yard and the combination can hit the target here with SHORT TAKES despite conceding weight all round. The gelding has gone from strength to strength this term and there seems little reason why he should not maintain that progression here. Trip and ground are fine. Bop Along, a course and distance scorer last time when just inching out the selection's stable companion, Greensalt, should go well but that form will need to be improved upon here, whilst a market check is suggested for Vuvuzela, returning after an absence of over 500 days. Sam Lord is an each-way option but does find winning rather hard.
Short Takes (USA) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 3rd before 2 out, led 2 out, clear last, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar beating Copt Hill (10-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Bop Along (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden after last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Hexham 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Mar beating Greensalt (11-2) by shd, 14 ran.
Forty Crown (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Held up in touch, went briefly 6 out and jumped slow, soon reminders, went 2nd again 4 out, one pace in 3rd before last, 4th of 6, 24l behind Lady Of Verona (10-2) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Vuvuzela 4-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3rd, went 3rd after 2 out, led flat, ridden out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '12 beating Tick Tocker (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sam Lord 6-1 (11-6) Led, headed 3 out, led briefly before 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 3, 24l behind Island Heights (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
Kent Street (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened 4 out, 12th of 14, 49l behind Bescot Springs (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
March Seventeenth (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Kilgefin Star (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
