held up, not fluent 3rd, closed 6th, ridden and edged left after 2 out, soon beaten, weakened and edged left last
led, mistake 2nd, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression on winner from last
prominent, not fluent and last 6th, struggling next, well behind after 9th
held up, closed 6th, led before 2 out, clear last, stayed on
tracked leader, lost place 7th, not fluent and outpaced next, well beaten from after 9th, plugged on flat
It's not saying much but this is easily the best race on the card. Saint Raph loves the mud and is now only 2lb higher than for his last success. Vic De Touzaine held every chance when unseating his rider at Wincanton nine days ago and won't get many better chances to open his account but Toby Lerone still looks a shade high in the weights. Sandown third Morney Wing won over this trip at Haydock in December but PRIDEOFTHECASTLE is taken to bounce back from a below-par run over course and distance last time as it may have come too soon after a winning debut over fences at the track two weeks earlier.
Prideofthecastle (IRE) 2-1 (11-1) Held up, closed 3rd, ridden and close up before 4 out, 3rd and beaten approaching 3 out, no extra, lost remote 3rd towards finish, 4th of 7, 28 1/2l behind Stilletto (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Toby Lerone (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Led, jumped right, ridden after 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 28l behind Brod Na Heireann (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec.
Morney Wing (IRE) 16-1 (12-5) Towards rear, outpaced 5 out, rallied 2 out, kept on same pace to go 3rd after last, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Jennys Surprise (11-7) at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Vic De Touzaine (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 11th, went second after 3 out, challenging when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Saint Raph (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Led until mistake 4 out, disputing 3rd and well held by winner 2 out, 4th of 6, 13 3/4l behind Fourth Act (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb.