tracked leaders, one pace from 2 out
with leader, led from 3rd, headed before 2 out, weakened and pulled up before last
held up mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace
in rear and raced wide, weakened before 2 out
led to 3rd, pushed along and weakened from 4 out, pulled up
towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, led before 2 out, kept on well from last
A very competitive handicap with the weights headed by Seeyouatmidnight, regarded as a Gold Cup possible at the start of the season, and the six-times Grade 1 winner Reve De Sivola. Knockara Beau has won a couple of Grade 2 races, including one here, but isn’t getting any younger. Eminent Poet has won three of his last four and Bryden Boy three of his last five and both should be thereabouts again. Runswick Royal could give a boost to the form of Isaacstown Lad’s second at Ayr in the opener, though there is nothing between that one and Shades Of Midnight on the form book. BIG RIVER has run well on quicker surfaces at Musselburgh and Haydock since scoring easily on heavy going at Ayr in December. He’s won two of his three previous starts here and finished second in the other so gets a narrow vote.
Seeyouatmidnight 4-1 (11-7) In touch, mistake 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 5 out, at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Nov.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 2nd, wandered into 9th, headed soon after, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 13, dist behind Impulsive Star (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Shades Of Midnight 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led before 3 out, headed last, kept on and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Runswick Royal (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Eminent Poet 2-1fav (11-12) Led and disputed, led before the last, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Mar beating Disputed (11-7) by 3l, 4 ran.
Bryden Boy (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) In rear, outpaced before 3 out, headway 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Whataknight (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led, pushed along and headed after 3 out, left in 3rd from 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Cyrus Darius (11-2) at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb.
Isaacstown Lad (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on well from last, went 2nd place close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Runswick Royal (11-6) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Big River (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, chased leader before 3 out, lost 2nd before last, kept on run-in, regained 2nd place close home, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Dadsintrouble (11-5) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
