chased leaders on inside, lost place briefly 9th, went modest 3rd turning in, weakened into 4th run-in, no chance with leading duo
made most but pressed, hit 6th, went left 10th, mistake and headed 4 out, soon dropped to 3rd, weakened before turning in, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
pressed leader, not fluent 8th, led 4 out, clear before next, went left 2 out, looked in command at the last, strongly pressed close home, just won in head bob
held up in last trio, headway chasing leaders 11th, hit 13th, went remote 3rd run-in
raced out wide, held up, good headway tracking leaders 9th, outpaced and struggling 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
raced in 3rd, went 2nd after 4 out, looked well held at the last, rallied strongly run-in, just lost out in head bob
NonRunner
Colonial Dreams is a bit long in the tooth to be going chasing but was only beaten a neck in a handicap at Newbury last month. Queenohearts has won five of her eight career starts but she is returning from a lay-off and making her chasing bow in decent company. Midnight River won at Wetherby after falling on his chasing debut at Carlisle but it would be no surprise to see HOLD THAT TAUGHT bounce back from being pulled up in the Welsh Grand National as his yard can do little wrong at present and neither this undulating track nor the prevailing conditions will hold any fears for Venetia Williams’ gelding, though he does need to cut out occasional jumping errors. Course and distance winner Fantastikas is the highest rated of these and has placed behind the likes of Threeundethrufive and L’Homme Presse recently but Broken Halo’s stamina will be tested in this if Bushypark adopts his usual front-running role.
Broken Halo 9-2 (11-0) Led, eased clear 3 out, ran on well, impressive, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Mario De Pail (11-9) by 19l, 5 ran.
Bushypark (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Led until 8th, led 9th, headed 11th, weakened 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, dist behind Mint Condition (11-4) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fantastikas (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Chased winner, jumped left 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, held after, kept on, 3rd of 8, 12 1/2l behind L'Homme Presse (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Hold That Taught 17-2 (10-0) Mid-division, prominent 18th, not fluent 5 out, soon beaten and pulled up before 2 out, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Colonial Dreams (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Raced wide tracking leaders, mistake 2nd, led in close 2nd 13th, led 3 out, went slightly right and joined last, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, headed final strides, 2nd of 7, nk behind I K Brunel (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Queenohearts (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden before 2 out, chased leader last, stayed on strongly to lead flat, won at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Clyne (12-2) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Midnight River 2-1 (11-2) Led, swerved right at 1st, ridden 2 out, headed narrowly at next, rallied gamely to lead again close home, (limited visibility), won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Pay The Piper (11-8) by nk, 4 ran.
