towards rear and always struggling to go the gallop, not fluent 1st, reminders after 7th, not fluent next, ridden after next, pecked 10th, behind next, pulled up before 13th
chased leaders, reminders after 2nd, ridden before 12th, outpaced before 4 out, well held after, pressing for modest 3rd last
held up in rear, headway after 16th, went 2nd 4 out, closed last, led flat, stayed on
led, clear 11th until last, headed flat, no extra
towards rear, not fluent 11th, ridden before 12th, well beaten 4 out, mistake 2 out
chased leader from 2nd, not fluent 3rd or 12th, 3rd and beaten 3 out, weakening when heavy fall 2 out
chased leader until 2nd, not fluent and outpaced 12th, when 3rd when hit 2 out, no impression
There will be no hanging about in this with several entered who like to force the pace. If it turns into a test of stamina, ANOTHER VENTURE (NAP) may be best equipped to come out on top as he made all over further at Plumpton last month and was fifth in the Devon National before that. Valadom has been running well enough without managing to get his head in front but Midnight Shot remains high enough in the weights. King Golan has been in great form and is a course and distance winner but has to compete from 4lb out of the handicap in a higher grade. Well Above Par may be best of the rest.
Midnight Shot 5-1 (11-12) Led, mistake and headed 10th, led again 12th, ridden and headed 3 out, chased winner until approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Sideways (10-3) at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Another Venture (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Made all, jumped right 4th, 4 lengths clear when blundered 2 out, rider lost iron briefly, soon back on an even keel and stayed on well, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Morney Wing (11-3) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Cultram Abbey 20-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, struggling 11th, behind when pulled up before 4 out, at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Valadom (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Led until 4 out, lost 2nd 3 out, kept on again run-in, 4th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Graceful Legend (12-0) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Well Above Par (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 12th, chasing leaders when mistake 5 out, soon under pressure, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 29l behind Glittering Love (11-7) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
King Golan (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Led, not fluent 2nd, well clear after 5th until before 9th, headed last, soon led again and drifted slightly left, headed close home, 2nd of 6, nk behind Sporting Press (10-10) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Lowanbehold (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair until 3rd, soon behind, trying to rally when mistake 12th, left 4th next, went 3rd after 14th, 2nd 2 out, stayed on run-in, always just held, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind So Satisfied (11-4) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Feb.
