chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, left moderate 3rd next
tracked leaders, lost place 12th, pulled up before 16th
held up, headway 9th, chased leader 11th, close up when fell 3 out
held up, headway 11th, left 2nd 3 out, ridden and led approaching 2 out, ridden out
led, headed 4th, chased leader after, blundered 13th, soon pulled up
tracked leader, led 4th, clear and pecked at 8th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, blundered last, no extra
Nonrunner
Mini Dare, Gray¿s Eulogy, and Ardashir are the three to catch the eye for this three mile handicap chase and Mini Dare is taken to follow up a recent success. After only showing glimmers of form early in the season, Gray¿s Eulogy sprang a 25-1 shock here in January and proved that was no fluke when following up at Sandown. However, he hasn¿t been seen since that win in February and he may just need some time to come to hand. Top weight Ardashir comes here fit after a pipe opener but he was a remote third that day, conceded weight all round here, and it is over a year since he won so he is passed over. Mini Dare looks to be a good bet though. Oliver Sherwood¿s representative won well here last week and is rated a stone higher over hurdles. Mini Dare is taken to follow up.
Ardashir (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, jumped slow and lost place 6th, headway 10th, outpaced 3 out, kept on again flat, 3rd of 10, 23l behind King of Gothland (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd.
Gray's Eulogy 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, headway before next, went 2nd 2 out, led last, driven and stayed on well, won at Sandown 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Feb beating Menphis Beury (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Mini Dare 7-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 11th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and hit last, ran on, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd beating Umbrella Man (11-1) by 13l, 11 ran.
Sweet Bird (FR) 40-1 (10-11) Held up, struggling 5 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Model Son (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 7f beg chs (F) gf in Oct, 10 ran.
Tudor King (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) In rear when slipped up at the 11th in race won by Midnight Gunner (11-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Sitting Duck 25-1 (11-2) Pulled hard in front, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 11, 27l behind Dubai Ace (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gf in Jun.
Leith Hill Star 9-1 (10-10) With leader until 4th, lost touch 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Bay Island (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Oct, 10 ran.