towards rear and in touch, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
led, headed 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
soon close up, pushed along before 8th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
in rear, headway before 9th, chased winner before last, well held run-in
mid-division, reminders and lost place halfway, headway 7th, kept on same pace from 3 out
with leader, led 4 out, kept on well before last
mid-division, went 3rd from 4 out, kept on from 2 out
This is probably the most competitive race on today’s card, though Rhymers Stone has more to do than when winning narrowly at Newcastle last month and Ayr second Top Billing weakened quickly last time at Warwick. LANDECKER won on this card three years ago and has scored three times since at the track, most recently in November. Very testing ground would be a worry but he has Kit Alexander’s claim in his favour again and is just preferred to Forty Crown and the hat-trick seeking Rowdy Rocher at the weights. Maxie T was in good form around this time last year and Hartforth won at Ayr in December, though reverted to type again at that track later.
Rowdy Rocher (IRE) 13-8fav (11-10) Towards rear, headway 5 out, challenged from 2 out, kept on to lead towards finish, just held on, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Plus Jamais (11-7) by hd, 8 ran.
Top Billing 20-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on outer, dropped to rear 6th, lost touch after next, soon pulled up, at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Hartforth 14-1 (11-12) With leaders, led 7th, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 20 3/4l behind Bryden Boy (12-0) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Landecker (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous, 8th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Clondaw Kaempfer (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Maxie T 12-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 12 3/4l behind Dadsintrouble (10-3) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Forty Crown (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Raced wide, chased leaders, led and pucked 9th, headed after 3 out, chased leader until driven before next, soon one pace, lost modest 3rd close home, 4th of 8, 8 1/2l behind Cooking Fat (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Rhymers Stone 7-2 (10-6) Prominent until after 1st, tracked leaders, led before 4 out, stayed on well flat, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Captain Clayton (11-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
