tracked leader, led 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, ridden and every chance 3 out, awkward on landing last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace
led until not fluent 5th, lost place next, rallied and upsides after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden after 8th, 4th and unable to quicken when stumbled slightly 2 out, went 3rd last, stayed on to press for 2nd flat
held up in rear, closed 7th, hit next, lost place approaching 3 out, weakening when blundered 2 out, hit last
held up in touch towards rear, mistake 4th, headway 7th, not much room and switched left approaching 3 out, led 2 out, drew clear flat, stayed on well
held up, not fluent 4th, headway 6th, weakened after 8th, pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
The looks a good deal easier than the last two races that ELDRED has contested and, though well beaten over this trip at Kempton last time, the five-year-old is taken to get off the mark here. Apache Chant looks the danger as he was only beaten half-a-length off this mark over C&D earlier this month. Eastwell Smiles was well placed to complete a hat-trick over the winter but pulled up on his first start for new connections and Second Brook was beaten in a claimer here last time. Royal Riviera won a maiden hurdle at Hereford last month, however, and makes more appeal than the exposed Perkin Warbeck.
Royal Riviera 14-1 (10-12) Made all, ridden before last, stayed on well flat, won at Hereford 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Reginaldinho (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Eldred (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) In touch in mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after next, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 9, 49l behind Araldur (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Eastwell Smiles 9-2 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Pegasus Prince (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Apache Chant (USA) 12-1 (9-11) Held up, ridden and headway after 6th, led 3 out, hard pressed threafter, ridden and edged right 2 out, headed flat, just held, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Badgers Cove (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Second Brook (IRE) 7-2fav (10-6) Mid-division, pushed along 5th, headway approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd post, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Supernoverre (10-9) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Ben Cee Pee M (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, kept on under pressure until weakened before last, 6th of 15, 21l behind Rockabilly (11-8) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Van Boxtal (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Never better than mid-division, 12th of 28, 19l behind Mull On The Run (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl gf in Sep '09.
Perkin Warbeck 14-1 (10-13) Towards rear, outpaced 8th, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, soon ridden, chased leading pair between last 2, kept on flat, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Molly Round (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.