tracked leader, led 6th, headed 8th, mistake and beaten 2 out, modest 5th last, edged left flat, stayed on towards finish, took 3rd close home
held up in last pair, closed 9th, not fluent 3 out, every chance last, no extra inside final 100 yards
tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, challenged 11th, led 4 out, headed last, no extra towards finish, lost 3rd close home
held up in last pair, headway on inside 7th, outpaced after 11th, weakened from 3 out
led until 6th, led 8th, not fluent and headed 4 out, led last, headed flat, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders on inside, dropped rear 9th, closed when not fluent 4 out, lost place again until effort after 2 out, switched left and right before last, led flat, stayed on well
Nonrunner
Mercian Prince goes on the short-list here as he was still travelling well when falling at Cheltenham in a race in which Dark Flame finished tailed off. Crosspark was close up when unseating his rider here last time and is another with decent claims but Always On The Run has disappointed lately and would have preferred a quicker surface. MAD JACK MYTTON is not straightforward and often flatters to deceive. But he’ll get it right eventually and he returns to his best trip here. Blinkers are applied to Morning Reggie and he’s preferred to Domesday Book of the others.
Domesday Book (USA) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, bad mistake 1st, pushed along briefly at 4th, ridden 4 out, soon no impression, 8th of 16, 31l behind Westerner Point (10-9) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Held up, not fluent 4th or 5th, went 3rd 6th until 4 out, 3rd again 3 out, no impression, left 2nd and hampered last, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Clic Work (11-4) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Prominent, every chance when fell 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Dark Flame (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Mid-division, blundered 10th, behind when hampered 12th, tailed off 4 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Royal Vacation (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Always On The Run (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in touch in rear, awkward 3rd, slightly hampered 6th, headway on outside into 2nd at 8th, blundered and weakened 11th, tailed off, 5th of 7, 37 3/4l behind Foxtail Hill (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Crosspark 4-1jfav (11-8) Held up in rear, headway on outside 7th, tracking leaders when sprawled on landing and unseated rider 13th, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Morning Reggie 8-1 (11-2) Towards rear, hit 9th, jumped slowly next, never on terms, 9th of 14, 31 1/4l behind Mercian Prince (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
