chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until next, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, hit 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
last pair, plugged on from 2 out, never on terms
led until 6th, led again next, headed before 4 out, driven in 3rd place after 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up in touch on inside, travelling well enough 6th, pushed along in 5th after 4 out, weakened next
chased leader, led 6th until mistake next, chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led before next, ridden and headed before 2 out, mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, soon no chance with leading duo, mistake last
in touch, remider after 4th, ridden after 7th, weakened next, tailed off
chased leading trio, went 3rd before 3 out, led before next, clear last, stayed on strongly flat
steadied start, held up in rear, headway travelling well to 3rd 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
Milgen Bay beat Coolbeg and Gandalfe at Leicester in February but the runner-up has let the form down since, being pulled up when favourite at Plumpton last time. Tempting Paradise appears to have lost his way and is now tried in a visor while Autumn Spirit and Quipe Me Posted have both been off the track for a while. Benny The Swinger was second in a hurdle race here in November but has been absent since. That leaves LAST SHOT who, though expensive to follow on the whole, did win by 10 lengths back over this trip at Plumpton at the end of last month and has optimum underfoot conditions again here. He looks the one to beat.
Milgen Bay 10-3 (11-12) Made virtaully all, not fluent 5th, pressed last, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb beating Coolbeg (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Autumm Spirit 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, weakened before 3 out, last of 7, well behind Themilanhorse (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 5f Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) gd in Mar '12.
Last Shot (FR) 3-1fav (11-11) Made all, clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Upton Mead (10-3) by 10l, 7 ran.
Coolbeg (IRE) 7-2fav (10-6) Pressed winner, led 2nd, headed approaching 7th, lost 2nd before omitted next, weakened before 3 out, beaten in 5th when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mister Matt (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 8 ran.
Gandalfe (FR) 3-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, closed next, challenged 3 out, soon edged left, went left again after next, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Milgen Bay (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Tempting Paradise (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 2nd, ridden after 3 out, mistake and no extra next, 4th of 8, 21l behind Milgen Bay (11-12) at Leicester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Quipe Me Posted (FR) 7-2 (10-11) Led, pushed along 5th, headed 7th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Baseball Ted (11-12) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr '12, 7 ran.
Benny The Swinger (IRE) 10-11fav (10-7) Led, ridden and veered badly left and headed after last, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Thundering Home (10-12) at Kempton 2m cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
