made most, joined 4 out, ridden and asserted last, ran on flat
tracked leaders, dropped to rear at 5th, pushed along 5 out, ridden and weakened 2 out
close up when jumped right 1st, dropped to rear 4th, ridden and weakened 3 out, not fluent last
tracked winner, joined winner 4 out, ridden 2 out, no extra approaching next, lost 2nd close home
in rear, headway 5th, tracked leaders next, ridden 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd close home
Pride Of Lecale easily beat Shaw's Cross at Ffos Las in January but the latter enjoys a big turnaround in the weights. Boagrius is a past winner here but has been well below his best this season and was beaten by BILLINGSLEY (NAP) at Newbury a couple of years ago on similar terms. A change of tactics worked wonders for the latter at Ffos Las last month and a double looks to be on the cards for Alastair Ralph’s charge with First Class Return offering little this term.
Pride Of Lecale 2-1 (11-0) Mostly jumped well, led, joined and hit 3 out, good jump 2 out, pressed when went left last, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 3, 7l behind File Illico (11-3) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Billingsley (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, closed before 5th, went 2nd next, challenged 7th, led 9th, clear before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb beating Rose Sea Has (11-7) by 7 1/2l, 6 ran.
First Class Return (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, last when mistake 10th, jumped right and unseated rider 12th, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Boagrius (IRE) 10-1 (11-13) In touch, pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 16 1/2l behind File Illico (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Shaw's Cross (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Towards rear, not fluent 7th, modest headway 5 out, soon weakened, hampered 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Feb.