pressed leader, lost place and pushed along briefly before 3rd, midfield 6th, ridden after 7th, weakened before 3 out
led narrowly, ridden before 2 out, headed narrowly last, faded flat
held up in midfield, ridden and lost touch before 3 out, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, stayed on from 2 out but never dangerous
towards rear, last halfway, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, stayed on under pressure without troubling leaders from 2 out
held up in touch, not fluent 7th, ridden to chase leader before 3 out, close up 2 out, led narrowly last, stayed on strongly flat
chased leader, ridden and weakened before 3 out
reluctant to race, in rear, lost touch 7th, ridden and rapid headway on outside before 3 out where chased leader, lost touch with leading pair 2 out, stayed on from last to take 2nd close home
NonRunner
Switch Hitter was let down by his jumping at Kempton on Boxing Day but is having only a fourth run over hurdles today so could easily bounce back. Heavy going would not have suited Aquila Sky at Doncaster but he still has stamina to prove over this trip. Royal Pretender and GLORY AND HONOUR (NAP) had contrasting fortunes in jumpers’ bumpers last time. The former won at Kempton last month but the latter failed to land the odds at Newcastle in January. Tom Lacey’s five-year-old could recoup losses in this, however, as he’ll enjoy the extra distance having been first past the post in a maiden point over 2m4f around this time last year. Took The Lot has been out of his depth the last twice but the drying ground is a worry.
Took The Lot 80-1 (10-12) Towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Glory And Honour (IRE) 4-11fav (11-10) Held up, headway to chase leaders back straight, ridden on outside over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Presentandcounting (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Jan.
Royal Pretender (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead final 100 yards, won at Kempton 2m 2f (5) pol in Feb beating Quiana (11-4) by nk, 12 ran.
Aquila Sky (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 7th of 15, 32 1/4l behind Gowel Road (12-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Presentedwithwings (IRE) 18-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 32 3/4l behind Mint Condition (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
One For You (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Mid-division but in touch, ridden briefly after 3 out, pushed along before last where mistake, weakened, 5th of 8, 12l behind Optimise Prime (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Glen Mooar (IRE) 500-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, no impression, well beaten before 2 out, 10th of 11, 21l behind Adrimel (11-3) at Warwick 2m 5f (1) hvy in Jan.
Winged Isle 12-1 (11-10) In touch, headway when hit 5 out, tracked leaders 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Thibault (12-5) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Switch Hitter (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 15, 23 1/2l behind Monte Cristo (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
