led, ridden and headed before last, kept on and held towards finish
with leader, led before last, shaken up run-in, asserted towards finish
Alpha Male wasn't beaten far when third at Ascot in December but made costly mistakes when well supported at Kempton a month later and was 10l behind today's rival BENEAGLES, who finished runner-up. It's very difficult to see a form reversal and Alan King's charge should go one better. Winning point-to-pointer Zamparelli should do better when tackling fences but Fact Flow hasn't won in 16 starts between the flags and was beaten a distance on his only start over hurdles.
Alpha Male (FR) 6-4fav (11-2) On and off the bridle, tracked leading trio, pushed along after 8th, travelling better in 3rd approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, disputing 2nd when not fluent 2 out, no impression when mistake last, weakened, 3rd of 8, 10 3/4l behind Ballymalin (11-12) at Kempton 3m (3) gs in Jan.
Beneagles (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway into 3rd 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well towards stands side rail flat, closing towards finish, just held, 2nd of 10, shd behind Town Parks (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Fact Flow (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Chsd ldrs, mstk 1st, ran in snatches, rdn 4th, 3rd 1/2way, rdn agn 6out, mod 4th 4out, no ex from 2out, 3rd of 8, 10l behind So Influential (12-2) at Tinahely 3m mdn sft in Jan.
Zamparelli (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 7th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, mistake and weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 19 1/2l behind Captain Buck's (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gs in Feb.
