chasing leaders when fell 4th
held up in rear, lost touch 4th, no danger after
held up, jumped left 2nd, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, kept on under pressure to take 2nd closing stages, no chance with winner
held up off the pace, weakened before 6th, behind when fell 8th
made all, jumped left throughout, driven clear 2 out, ran on well
prominent, lost place before 4 out, modest 4th
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge when mistakes 3 out and 2 out, no extra after last
A tricky puzzle to solve but Jayo Time is probably best watched returning from a lay-off and the ground may have turned against Un Prophete, who is also high enough in the weights now. Abidjan remains unexposed over fences while I'dliketheoption won here in October. He is only 5lb higher today and hasn’t been disgraced in either start since. Lord Ben ran his best race for a while at Hereford last month but recent winners Deadly Approach and IFANDBUTWHYNOT could fight out the finish. The former is six years younger than the latter and never saw another rival here in February. He was also ahead of eventual winner Un Prophete when coming to grief over track and trip earlier but Tim Easterby’s veteran rediscovered his zest at Southwell two weeks ago and is still well treated on his best form.
Jayo Time (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, 6 lengths off winner and no impression when fell 2 out, at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in May.
Abidjan (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd briefly after 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 10th of 12, dist behind Brelan D'as (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
I'dliketheoption (IRE) 4-1fav (11-2) Never fluent, held up in 6th, mistake 4th, hit next, pushed along and struggling in last before 8th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, driven and stayed on between last two, 3rd before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Red Devil Star (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Un Prophete (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) In rear, pushed along before and blundered 6th, soon pulled up, at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Made all, clear from 2 out, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Ypsilanti (11-0) by 8l, 5 ran.
Deadly Approach 7-2 (10-10) Took keen hold, soon led, headed 3rd, led before 7th, clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb beating Lou Vert (11-8) by 11l, 7 ran.
Lord Ben (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Raced keenly, chased leader, hit 3rd, led 8th until 2 out, chased winner, ridden between last 2, one pace from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Somchine (11-8) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
