prominent, hampered 3rd, lost a bit of ground when hampered 5th, outpaced 4 out, weakened last
held up in rear, ridden after 8th, some headway before 4 out, no impression, soon weakened
chased leaders, closed after 2nd, bumped 3rd, led 4 out, edged left flat, headed towards finish
mid-division on outside, headway after 8th, 2nd after 3 out, jumped left 2nd, switched right before last and flat, stayed on to lead towards finish
handy on inside, led 8th, headed 4 out, mistake and lost 2nd 3 out, beaten after, weakened flat
jumped left, led, not fluent 1st, reminders 7th, headed next, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up before last
always behind
Nonrunner
STORMING STRUMPET has been raised 6lb since his second in a lower grade here five weeks ago but his trainer has a good strike rate at the track and the seven-year-old looks the obvious one in this. Texas Forever arrives off the back of seconds at Hereford and Southwell, though the form is nothing to write home about. Irish import Frankie Ballou was third at Catterick on his first run for Joanne Foster while Crown Hill, who won at Perth in September, will have benefited from his first run for Johnny Farrelly at Towcester.
Monte Wildhorn (IRE) 22-1 (10-9) Not always fluent in rear, behind 9th, pulled up before next, at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Hahnenkam (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, 12th of 15, 28 3/4l behind Reilly's Minor (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Storming Strumpet 5-2fav (11-12) Held up behind, headway before 6 out, went 2nd before last, switched right run-in, kept on and hard driven, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Midnight Jade (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jan.
Crown Hill (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, mistake 9th, not fluent next, stayed on flat, nearest finish, 5th of 14, 8 1/2l behind Goohar (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Texas Forever (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Jumped right, led to after 3rd, in touch, driven to chase front pair after 4 out, ridden after next, stayed on to take 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Un Prophete (12-5) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Frankie Ballou (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led 7th, ridden and headed last, keeping on same pace and looked held when hampered on inside 100 yards out, no extra and lost 2nd 50 yards out, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Halcyon Days (11-11) at Catterick 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Free Return (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Stepover (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jan.
Today Please (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Held up, in touch, under pressure 5 out, pulled up soon after next, at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gf in Dec.