tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, ridden and weakening when mistake next
tracked leaders on outside, 2nd before 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra in 3rd run-in
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, outpaced after next, mistake 6th, plugged on but never on terms with leaders after
mistake 2nd, always behind, tailed off
led until narrowly headed 1nd, chased leader, led again 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, in front again at the last, headed and not pace of winner last 100 yards
not that well away, soon chasing leaders on inside, led 2nd, mistake and headed 4th, lost 2nd before 4 out, weakening when hampered next, behind and pulled up before 2 out
held up in 6th, headway before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
held up in touch, steady headway on inside after 6th, close 3rd before 2 out where not fluent, ridden and wandered between last 2, stayed on from the last to lead final 100 yards
behind, some late modest headway, never on terms
Rothman got back to winning ways reverting to hurdles at Plumpton but this looks tougher off an 8lb higher mark. Fixed Rate doesn’t handle heavy ground so can be forgiven his run at Exeter and is back on a winning mark. Spin A Yarn is having a first run for Warren Greatrex after a wind operation but is lightly raced and makes more appeal than Faint Hope and Brown Bear, who may have lost his way. NORTH HILL (NAP) may be 13lb higher than when winning this 12 months ago but there was plenty of promise in his comeback run at Cheltenham and he’s probably been aimed at the race again.
Querry Horse (FR) 16-1 (10-9) In touch, mistake 2nd, lost place when mistake 5th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Fixed Rate 16-1 (11-12) Prominent in chasing group, ridden and weakened after 3 out (normal 4 out), tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Rothman (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led just after 3 out, drew clear before last, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Midnight Maestro (11-12) by 6l, 13 ran.
North Hill (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outside when mistake 4th, not fluent next, not fluent and hanging right 3 out, every chance 2 out, beaten last, weakened flat, 9th of 15, 17 3/4l behind Magic Dancer (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Spin A Yarn (IRE) 3-1fav (10-9) Led narrowly, joined at 5th where not fluent, led before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on run-in, not match winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Fridaynightlights (11-0) at Tramore 2m Yielding in Aug.
Foxy Act 25-1 (11-10) Pulled hard and prominent, tracked leader after 2nd, hit 6th, led next, headed before mistake 2 out, weakened soon after, 10th of 12, 32 1/2l behind Timeforben (10-11) at Kempton 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Brown Bear (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Not that fluent, held up, steady headway approaching 10th, jumped slowly next, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, 29 3/4l behind The Last But One (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Faint Hope 12-1 (11-3) Held up, closed on inside 6th, ridden 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Another Emotion (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 4f (4) sft in Apr.
Aviator (GER) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, dist behind Huntsman Son (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
