close up, not fluent, pushed along 9th, dropped to rear 12th, struggling when hit 3 out, tailed off when pulled up next
made all, pressed 3 out, ridden 2 out, ran on
tracked leaders, pressed winner 3 out, effort when switched left flat, no impression towards finish
tracked winner when stumbled badly on landing 1st, ridden 4 out, weakened and pulled up 2 out
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
Sir Note only found one too good off this mark at Kempton last time when seeking a sixth win in seven starts over fences. He shouldn’t be ignored and Mercers Court, a winner on the card 12 months ago, has also won his fair share this term. But the jury is out on Un Ace at present and Winner Massagot is not currently making the anticipated progress. WORKBENCH alternates between hurdles and fences and runs over a variety of distances but he has his ground for the first time in a while over the larger obstacles and is by no means harshly treated on his best form.
Un Ace (FR) 25-1 (10-5) Hampered 1st, blundered and dropped to rear 2nd, hampered 10th, never dangerous, 13th of 24, 34 3/4l behind Road To Respect (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Sir Note (FR) 9-2cfav (11-8) Led, hard driven when headed approaching 3 out, rallied next, mistake last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Max Ward (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Mercers Court (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, left tracking leader 2nd, lost 2nd 14th, chased leading pair, ridden and no impression before 2 out, held on for modest 3rd post, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind La Vaticane (12-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Winner Massagot (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 9th, soon outpaced and beaten after, weakened from 3 out, last of 4, dist behind Kilcrea Vale (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 1f (2) sft in Feb.
Workbench (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, behind 4th, 12 lengths last 6th, closed to take 2nd before 4 out, mistake and no impression on winner from 3 out, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Speredek (10-8) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.