slowed into 1st, led until hit 11th and headed, chased leader, hit 13th, lost 2nd before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, poor 5th when pulled up before the last
tracked leader, led 11th, hit 3 out and headed, chased (easy) winner, ridden between last two, weakened into modest 3rd at the last
chased leaders, weakened last
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, hit next, challenged going well 4 out, led next, clear between last two, easily
waited with in rear, headway before 2 out, went 2nd at the last, never any chance with easy winner
chased leaders out wide, weakened 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Clan Legend beat Riders Onthe Storm at Aintree in December and is only a pound higher, though is the senior runner in this by some way. Silver Hallmark started favourite for the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day but was never travelling and pulled up. EMPIRE STEEL was also fancied that day and looked to be moving nicely into contention when falling four out. He needs forgiving a lifeless effort in the Peter Marsh at Haydock last month but a drop in trip may help. The Mighty Arc has taken well to fences and should get an uncontested lead while Pay The Piper continues to run well and is another to consider.
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 11th, headed next, led before 4 out, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, 34 1/2l behind Vienna Court (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Silver Hallmark 5-2fav (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 12th and driven, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Pay The Piper (IRE) 10-11fav (11-6) Held up in rear, in touch, hit 11th, tracked leader before 12th, strongly pressed winner from 4 out, ridden before 2 out, ran on well but always held, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Kiltealy Briggs (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (2) gd in Feb.
Empire Steel (IRE) 4-1 (10-4) Held up, not fluent 11th and 12th, headway on outside 5 out, soon outpaced by leaders and weakened quickly, pulled up after 4 out, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Clan Legend 5-2 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, switched right and closed off final bend, led 4 out, headed 3 out, 4th and no extra last, 4th of 5, 9 1/2l behind She'sasupermack (11-5) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Mighty Arc (IRE) 16-5 (11-10) Jumped well, came clear before 2 out, kept up to work run-in, unchallenged, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating En Meme Temps (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
