always towards rear
prominent, led 3rd to 5th, led again briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced by winner, edged left and one pace flat
mid-division, headway 7th, led approaching 3 out, clear 2 out, hit last, ridden out
mid-division, headway after 8th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened next
behind, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, never troubled leaders
held up in rear, headway after 8th, ridden 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
always behind
towards rear, ridden and headway after 8th, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
chased leaders, ridden after 8th, soon weakened
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
led 2nd to 3rd, stayed prominent to 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
keen, with leaders, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened quickly
mid-division, reminders after 5th, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, with leaders to 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
This looks a competitive handicap with narrow preference going to Star Prize ahead of stablemate Go For Bust and Yourman. It is interesting that Mick Fitzgerald chooses to ride the unexposed selection rather than Go For Bust, who would appear to hold solid claims off a 7lb higher mark than when scoring last time. The selection is open to improvement and may have been let in lightly for his debut in this grade. The Paul Nicholls-trained Azzemour is similarly unexposed and cannot be discounted completely, while Mylo, who had looked progressive is, like most of Jonjo O'Neill's horses, probably best watched at present. Kilgowan was going well when falling two out at Cheltenham but disappointed at Chepstow subsequently, while Keltic Rock looks to be going the right way and is another to consider. Martin Pipe's Yourman has struggled off higher marks since winning at Chepstow in October and, while it may be too soon to write off Martin Pipe's gelding, preference is for Star Prize who is taken to justify Mick Fitzgerald's faith in him.
Mylo 9-4fav Held up in rear, effort 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 10, 41l behind Carlys Quest at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec.
Keltic Rock 14-1 Held up towards rear, ridden and some headway approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 13, 14l behind Senor Sedona at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (C) sft in Feb.
Go For Bust 16-1 In touch, bumped after 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Feb beating Oysterhaven by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Kilgowan (IRE) 9-4fav Held up in rear, some headway 7th, hard ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 12, well behind Mythical King at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Feb.
Star Prize (IRE) 12-1 Mid-division, ridden 2 out, stayed on well from last, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Foodbroker Founder at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Thisisyourlife (IRE) 12-1 Held up, mistake 6th, behind when fell at the 12th in race won by Captain Corelli at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (E) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Yourman (IRE) 11-2 Mid-division, mistake 4th, lost place after next, kept on before last, no impression, 7th of 20, 25l behind Cornish Sett at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Lonesome Man (IRE) 17-2 In touch, ridden 5th, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 20l behind Dinarelli at Hereford 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Apr.
General Grey (IRE) 40-1 Towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, kept on, never on terms, 4th of 14, 22l behind Billyvoddan at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gd in Jan.
Master d'Or (FR) 4-1 Held up in mid-division, ridden 9th, weakening when fell 3 out in race won by Laskari at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Real Cracker (IRE) 40-1 Prominent, chased leader 3rd to 6th, weakening when mistake 2 out, 7th of 9, well behind Only Vintage at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
Talbot Lad 22-1 Mid-division, headway 8th, weakened 12th, 9th of 11, 36l behind Roschal at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Feb.
Azzemour (FR) 5-1 In touch, headway approaching 9th, led approaching 2 out, soon hard ridden, hit and headed last, weakened flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Hoh Nelson at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Feb.
Iowa (IRE) 100-1 Ridden after 4th, always behind, 11th of 13, well behind Mighty Man at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Feb.
Fairly Smart 11-4fav In touch, hit 5th, ridden and every chance after 2 out, soon beaten, 4th of 11, 10l behind Mrs Pickles at Hereford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl (F) sft in Feb.
Gaye Dream 2-1fav Led, headed approaching 4th, lost place 7th, tailed off 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Fishki's Lad at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Feb, 11 ran.
