midfield, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led approaching last, hard ridden, ran on well
in touch, outpaced 3 out, switched right and headway approaching 2 out, chased leaders last, stayed on strongly closing stages, never reached winner
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders after next, stayed on same pace
behind, headway approaching 2 out, soon no impression
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, not fluent 7th, led approaching 8th, hard driven when challenged 3 out, headed before last, faded flat
tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out
midfield, lost palce 5 out
led, jumped right 2nd, headed approaching 8th, rallied and every chance after 3 out, kept on well under pressure
in touch, effort after 3 out, soon under pressure, weakened flat
midfield, under pressure 4 out, soon weakened
always behind
This is easily the strongest of the two divisions of this handicap and a wide-open affair. Nicky Richards won the race in 2012 and will have high hopes that Looking Well can follow up his victory at Newcastle. Golans Choice might enjoy the longer trip having finished second over 2m4f at Hexham last time. Mo Rouge beat a couple of decent novices over track and trip in October but hasn't raced since finishing third at Musselburgh the following month. ALWAYS TIPSY has improved steadily over the winter and was only caught close home last time at Wetherby. He has more scope than recent course winner Hunters Belt so gets the nod with Sky Khan and Lowcarr Motion best of the rest.
Looking Well (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up behind, headway 7th, effort to challenge on inside before 2 out, led last, ridden flat, hard pressed when edged left towards finish, held on, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating U Name It (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Sky Khan 4-1 (11-12) In touch main group, lost place after 3rd, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, soon one pace, stayed on to dispute modest 3rd flat, no impression, 4th of 11, 14l behind Captain Brown (11-3) at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Always Tipsy 12-1 (11-7) Held up behind, headway before 4 out, challenged 3 out, led and hit 2 out, headed towards finish, no extra, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Azure Aware (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Feb.
Hunters Belt (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up behind, smooth headway last (usual 3 out), challenged towards stands side rail bypassing omitted 2 out, ridden to lead over 1f out, held on (2 flights in home straight omitted), won at Kelso 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar beating Pixie Cut (10-4) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Golans Choice (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) In touch, mistake 4th, chased leaders when not fluent 3 out, outpaced next, ridden to chase front pair between last 2, went 2nd when not fluent last, kept on, no impression with winner, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Palm Grey (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Mo Rouge (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Prominent, every chance 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Nexius (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Pistol (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, went prominent 4th until after 6th, soon behind, 5th of 10, 23l behind Palm Grey (10-10) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Jack Albert (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, led after 9th, headed 10th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 5, 48l behind Nomadic Storm (11-8) at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Lowcarr Motion 7-2fav (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, kept on to chase winner run-in, always held, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Madrasa (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.
Wildest Dreams (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Chased leaders in 3rd, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 11, 28l behind Grange Hall (10-2) at Hexham 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Queens Regatta (IRE) 250-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 7, 36l behind One For Arthur (11-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
