tracked leader until pushed along before 4 out, 4th and beaten 3 out, weakened next
led, not fluent 6th, headed 3 out, 4 lengths down last, rallied flat, unable to quite get back at idling winner
raced lazily and not always fluent, mostly 5th, last 14th, weakened next, tailed off
tracked leaders, lost place from 13th, weakened after 15th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in 4th, took keen hold, closed 13th, went 2nd before 4 out, led going well next, 4 lengths clear when hit last, idled flat, driven out
held up in last, closed from 12th, shaken up and went 3rd 3 out, stayed on, never able to challenge
Nonrunner
Loose Chips has run well in a couple of amateur contests lately, winning the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown last month. But he may struggle back in handicap company while Drumshambo was tailed off at Warwick earlier this week, though wasn't beaten far over this course and distance off a higher mark in February. This may be too far for Ice 'N' Easy but the step up to 3m should suit the novice A Good Skin, though he's been raised 5lb since his latest second at Newbury. SILVER COMMANDER burst a blood vessel and was pulled up at Kempton in December. But he's had three months to recover and there wasn't much wrong with his earlier form. The better ground today is in his favour and he's handicapped to be thereabouts.
Drumshambo (USA) 10-1 (10-13) Chased leaders on outside, lost place 2nd, not fluent next, losing touch 11th, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Seventh Sky (11-8) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Mar.
Loose Chips 9-2 (12-2) Took keen hold early, chased leader, led 3rd, hit 15th, ridden and headed 2 out, chased leader, rallied to lead again last, pressed run-in, stayed on gamely, won at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar beating Merrion Square (11-7) by nk, 12 ran.
Ice 'n' Easy (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Towards rear, pushed along before 7th, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 11, 26l behind Make Me A Fortune (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Brassick 7-2fav (12-1) Held up, hampered 2nd, headway 12th, hampered 2 out, went 3rd flat, unable to challenge, edged left flat, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 12, 7l behind That's Rhythm (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m 3f hts chs (3) sft in Feb '14.
A Good Skin (IRE) 10-3fav (11-8) Held up and behind, steady headway after 12th, chased leaders 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden and stayed on same pace pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Bandit Country (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Feb.
Lord Grantham (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) In touch in last pair, closer order 7th, travelling ok when stumbled badly and almost unseated rider 3 out, not recover, last of 7, 16l behind Anay Turge (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Silver Commander 9-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, stumbled 1st, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ballinvarrig (10-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
