chased leaders, led and hung left after 2 out, not fluent last, soon headed, rallied towards finish, just held
behind, pushed along approaching 3out, headway and not fluent next, soon ridden, led just after last, stayed on well under pressure
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace
led, jumped left throughout, hung badly left after 3 out, headed 3rd, remained prominent, mistake 2 out, soon one pace
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, never able to challenge
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed before 2 out, weakened last
behind, never a factor
held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, not jumped well, ridden 4 out, soon beaten
in touch, lost place 3 out
An interesting contest where a chance is taken on EXULTO, while Synthe Davis and Zen Factor look likely to get very competitive. Philip Hobbs has his string in superb form, and certainly much better than when the selection last ran at Southwell in January, when he finished 22 lengths adrift of the useful Tocca Ferro. He will stay further in time, but for now good ground and two miles is ideal and we will chance him to return to form at a price. Hobbs will have a decent line on his chances after his own Keki Buku finished ahead of Synthe Davis at Leicester in December. The mare is open to improvement after just three starts over timber and has to be respected, although she does have it to prove on the ground. Zen Factor has gone up 7lbs for a good win at Huntingdon last time, which was his first semblance of form since a run on the Flat a couple of years ago. Therefore, given that inconsistent profile he can be taken on again today. Gunslinger has over six lengths to find with Zen Factor from that Huntingdon race, but he is weighted to be thereabouts and could improve again on ground that should suit. Minnie Hill is another potential improver, and she will need to do so if she is to win this, though preference in an open heat is for Exulto.
Synthe Davis (FR) 3-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 5th, every chance when mistake 2 out, blundered last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Keki Buku (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Zafranagar (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Pulled hard, chased leader, weakened after 3 out, 8th and no chance when hampered next, 7th of 11, 45l behind Tail Of The Bank (11-12) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Gunslinger (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, switched to outside approaching 5th, headway before 3 out, disputing 2nd before 2 out until no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Zen Factor (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Zen Factor 13-2 (11-0) Jumped left, made all, kicked on approaching 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb beating Apache Chant (11-3) by 4l, 11 ran.
Exulto (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 14, 22l behind Tocca Ferro (11-4) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Minnie Hill (IRE) 7-2 (9-8) Led hit 5th, ridden and headed before last, weakened flat, 4th of 10, 7l behind Bothy (10-13) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Owner Occupier 100-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, never in contention, 9th of 13, 22l behind Like A Hurricane (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd.
Magistrate (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, lost place after 4th, not fluent 5th, went modest 4th after 3 out until lost position closing stages, 5th of 11, 35l behind Accordingtoemandem (11-1) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (4) gd.
Geoffdaw 33-1 (11-0) Held up, weakened 3 out, 6th of 11, 24l behind Near The Water (10-11) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Filun 40-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden after 5th, every chance 3 out, jumped left and weakened 2 out, 8th of 13, 33l behind Haarth Sovereign (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gs.
Witch of The Wave (IRE) 13-2 (10-8) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 6th, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Prince Pippin (10-5) at Plumpton 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd in Nov.
