chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
raced wide, hung right and jumped right, made all, ridden hung right and went right 2 out, in command when hung right and jumped right again last
chased leaders, 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
held up towards rear and raced wide, pushed along after 3 out, kept on from next, went modest 3rd run-in, never on terms
held up in rear, some headway before 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, never a factor, tailed off
chased winner, ridden before 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, hit 2 out, well held when mistake last, weakened run-in
held up in 5th, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, ridden between last 2, soon weakened
held up in last pair, in rear when fell 3 out
held up in 6th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
Don Bersy is finding life tough this season and may need more help from the handicapper. This is a much better race than the one won by Viserion at Sedgefield while One For Billy was beaten at Doncaster after accounting for a subsequent winner at Warwick. Le Precieux needs to up his game and Josh Moore prefers stablemate Maquisard. Charming Zen hasn’t raced and changed stables since making a winning UK debut at Doncaster almost a year ago but an absence is rarely a problem for one from his yard and James Bowen’s claim is a plus. JENKINS has contested tough handicaps in both runs this term and has been dropped a further 2lb. He gets 7lb from his less-exposed stable companion and that may be enough to give him the edge.
Charming Zen (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up in touch and keen, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Feb beating Apasionado (11-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Jenkins (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never on terms, 7th of 11, 13 3/4l behind A Hare Breath (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Don Bersy (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, chased leading pair, 2nd 3 out, pushed along and chance when blundered badly next, weakened, not recover, 9th of 12, 20 3/4l behind Verdana Blue (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Hurricane Hollow 14-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, never on terms, 8th of 10, 33 1/4l behind Call Me Lord (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Maquisard (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Keen, chased leaders, 2nd 4 out, led going well briefly before next, soon headed and weakened quickly, 8th of 10, dist behind Kayf Grace (11-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Viserion 5-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, led next, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Dark And Dangerous (10-13) by 6l, 7 ran.
Minellaforleisure (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 7th of 9, 31 1/4l behind Irish Roe (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Le Precieux (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Last pair, never a factor, outpaced 3 out, modest 5th approaching last, 5th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Knocknanuss (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
One For Billy 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Castafiore (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Dec.