led, headed after 4 out, weakened before mistake 3 out
chased leaders, outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, eased
chased leader, led after 4 out, driven and headed last, held towards finish
reluctant to line up and led into start, held up, closed when slow and lost place 4 out, headway 3 out, 3rd when switched left after 2 out, ran on towards finish
chased leaders, jumped left and one pace 3 out, no extra next
held up, headway after 4 out, 2nd 3 out, led last, ran on
in rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden 4 out, headway on outside before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 4th and beaten when mistake last
Thounder has been knocking on the door but a 4lb rise for placing again last time at Huntingdon seems harsh. Tim Rocco goes for the hat-trick but steps up a grade after wins at Doncaster and Newcastle. Peruvien Bleu blew the start here 11 days ago on his reappearance but would have a chance on last year’s form and Potters Midnight may well have won at Fakenham last month had he not missed out the last. Court Royale has been highly tried since winning at Taunton in November and the front-running Totterdown is also eased in grade. SNAPDRAGON FIRE (NAP) is best on sharp, right-handed tracks like this and is proving very consistent so should take all the beating again.
Totterdown 14-1 (10-1) Awkwardly away, chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd until pushed along on long run after 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next, at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Militarian 50-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, hit 4th, mistake 6th, lost place before 9th, struggling 11th, mistake 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Snapdragon Fire (IRE) 8-15fav (12-0) Led to after 3rd, tracked leader, led again before 3 out, clear next, in no danger after ridden out flat, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m (4) gd in Feb beating Buck's Bin's (11-2) by 10l, 14 ran.
Peruvien Bleu (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Very reluctant to race, eventually went but always well tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Musical Slave (11-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Thounder (FR) 11-8fav (12-1) Chased leaders, stumbled 3rd, headway 3 out, jumped left and led next, ridden and headed flat, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Dyliev (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Court Royale (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders when hampered 2 out, kept on, never able to challenge, 4th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Capitaine (11-0) at Taunton 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Tim Rocco (GER) 11-8fav (11-11) Held up in rear, hit 5th, headway after 3 out, ridden approaching last, led flat, edged left, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Beyondtemptation (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Potters Midnight 5-2jfav (11-10) Prominent, ridden to lead bend approaching last, blundered last, soon headed, no extra, 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Thistimenextyear (11-3) at Fakenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
