tracked leading pair, 2nd 3 out, led last, came clear run-in
keen in last pair, struggling in rear 4th, never threatened
keen in touch, lost place 4th, shaken up after 2 out, no headway
keen in touch, headway into 3rd before 2 out, stayed on same pace under pressure run-in
chased leader until 3 out, hung right and weakened before next
led and set steady pace, hit 3rd, quickened tempo after next, pushed along and wandered before 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace
pulled hard in rear, steady headway 4th, still pulling 4 out, went 4th before 2 out, found nil, went left and mistake last
chased leaders on outside, weakened approaching 3 out
The Premier Celtic was behind recent all-weather bumper winner Grapevine at Newbury and is worse off at the weights, though did beat better-fancied rivals at Plumpton later whereas Distingo was a bit disappointing under a penalty at Fontwell after landing a maiden at Plumpton. Lord Duveen ran well in a decent contest at Exeter in October but hasn’t been seen since. SAO possibly needed the run when failing to land the odds at Wincanton on his UK debut. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and another chance here.
Distingo (IRE) 4-9fav (11-5) Raced hard on inside, tracked leading pair, 2nd before 6th, challenged 2 out, upsides hard ridden and every chance soon after last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Jaisalmer (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) hvy in Feb.
The Premier Celtic 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, closed 3 out, challenged last, led and edged right flat, driven out, won at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in Feb beating Royal Ruby (11-2) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
George Gently (FR) 6-4fav (11-2) Mid-division, chased clear leaders 5th, modest 4th when weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Southwell 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Going Gold (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 11, 33 3/4l behind King Of Realms (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Grapevine (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in 6th on inside, switched left going well over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ran on and always doing enough, won at Kempton 2m (5) pol in Mar beating Diablo De Rouhet (11-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Lord Duveen (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened after last, 5th of 17, 7 1/4l behind Onefortheroadtom (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f (4) gs in Oct.
Sao (FR) 8-11fav (10-13) Took keen hold, held up well in rear, headway on outside to chase winner after 2 out, led briefly before 2 out, switched right before last, soon beaten, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Embole (10-7) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Feb.
Stylish Dancer 9-1 (10-4) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, well beaten from next, 7th of 10, dist behind Shine Baby Shine (10-4) at Catterick 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Mere Ironmonger 5-2fav (11-3) Led, headed over 2f out, ridden and no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Gibbes Bay (10-10) at Ayr 2m (3) gs in Apr.
