prominent, led after the 3rd, pressed and quickly headed after 3 out, soon faded
prominent then tracked leader, weakened after mistake 4 out, well detached and ridden after 3 out
tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and disputed lead 3 out, every chance last, no extra run-in
held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, not fluent last and kept on for a remote 4th
held up towards rear, niggled along and slight headway after 3 out, kept on after 2 out but never dangerous
mid-division, closer after the 4th, headway to press leader after 3 out, ridden and disputed lead 2 out, every chance last, kept on gamely run-in and just held on
tracked leader, ridden and outpaced run to 2 out, kept on at the one pace
prominent, lost position and struggling before the 4th, pulled up before the 5th
towards rear, ridden after 3 out, pulled up before the last
mid-division, closer and tracked leaders after 4th, shaken up and made challenge approaching 2 out, not fluent 2 out, a length down in 3rd at the last, kept on strongly run-in, not enough
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out
tracked leader, niggled along 4 out, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, weakened and well held after 2 out
towards rear, pushed along and plenty to do 3 out, ridden 2 out, never a factor
tracked leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out
Christopher Wood and Voix Du Reve look closely matched on their 1-2 at Musselburgh last month when Newtown Boy and Blakeney Point were unplaced. Angus Cheleda normally rides the former so not much can be read into the fact that Harry Cobden partners his stablemate Solo. Hunters Call usually travels strongly but doesn’t find much when push comes to shove. Playa Blanca won here in October but has been beaten twice off this mark since but The Shunter should be thereabouts having won a Grade 3 at Cheltenham when last seen over hurdles. TOMMY’S OSCAR couldn’t quite get to Bareback Jack at Musselburgh last time but that was another improved effort. He runs in this rather than the Grade 2 earlier on the card and the hint should be taken. Faivoir beat a subsequent winner in a Grade 2 at Haydock six weeks ago but he was beaten off a 15lb lower mark at Sandown in November.
Christopher Wood (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Always handy, led 4 out, headed 2 out, led again before last, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Voix Du Reve (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 18-1 (11-12) Led 1st, headed before 4th, led 5th, headed next, led again when mistake 2 out, headed before last, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Christopher Wood (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Faivoir (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, joined leader 5th, clear with leader 2 out, ridden when 2 lengths down flat, hung left driven and stayed on to lead final strides, won at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Minella Drama (11-4) by nk, 5 ran.
Solo (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, never on terms, 12th of 20, 31 1/2l behind Boreham Bill (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Hunters Call (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Keen in mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, held when hit last, lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 20, 3 3/4l behind Boreham Bill (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
The Shunter (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Led, joined 6th, headed 4 out, 3rd and pushed along before 2 out, ridden entering straight and not clear run in 5th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 20, 3 3/4l behind A Wave Of The Sea (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Tommy's Oscar (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Prominent, pushed along before 3 out, lost position 3 out, ran on strongly after last, went second inside final 110 yards, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Bareback Jack (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m (2) sft in Feb.
Locker Room Talk (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Raced freely, led until 1st, led before 4th, headed next, weakened after 4 out, last of 10, dist behind Christopher Wood (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Scardura (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Prominent, chased leaders from 3rd, jumped right 7th, dropped towards rear after 8th, slow 4 out, pushed along and awkward 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 6th of 8, 21 1/2l behind Elusive Belle (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Night Edition (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Never better than mid-division, 15th of 23, 18 1/4l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Newtown Boy (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Mid-division, headway before 4th, not fluent next, close up 4 out, no extra before 2 out, 6th of 10, 20 1/2l behind Christopher Wood (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Blakeney Point 10-1 (10-7) Behind, slow 1st, stayed on from 3 out, never involved, closing on 4th towards finish, 5th of 10, 17 1/4l behind Christopher Wood (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Playa Blanca (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) In rear, not fluent 5th, pushed along and reminders over 3 out, soon hard ridden, dropped away and weakened before next, 6th of 7, 14l behind Glajou (11-2) at Southwell 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Orkan 17-2 (11-2) Prominent, led 2nd, ridden before 2 out, drew well clear before last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Song Of The Hunter (11-6) by 7 1/2l, 18 ran.
