raced wide, tracked leader, led after 2nd until 4th, chased leaders, led again 7th, went left 3 out and next, jumped left last, headed and no extra final 100 yards
tracked leading pair, 2nd place after 2nd, led 4th until 7th, chased leader, mistake 4 out, flattened 3 out, led again final 100 yards, stayed on
last pair, outpaced 4 out, modest 4th 3 out
held up in 5th place, outpaced and pushed along in last pair 6th, headway into 3rd before 4 out until ridden before next, weakened 3 out
jumped poorly in rear, tailed off 5th, never a factor
chased leading trio, jumped left and went 3rd 6th until before 4 out, modest 3rd again before 3 out where jumped left, no chance with leading duo
raced feely, led until after 2nd and dropped to 3rd, lost 3rd and slightly hampered 6th, weakened before next, tailed off
Silver Kayf was well backed when scoring at Huntingdon in November and was then third under a penalty at Southwell the following month. He’s had a break but should be ready for this and has strong claims. However, BALLYMILLEN will know his job and Nigel Twiston-Davies does well with his recruits from the point-to-point ranks. The Mahler gelding won a maiden between the flags in Ireland in December before changing hands. Jockey bookings would suggest Stage Summit is the pick of Ben Pauling’s two runners but the Limerick bumper winner looks held by Silver Kayf on collateral form. Dans Le Vent hasn’t done a lot wrong so far and can’t be ignored, despite the extra 6lb.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon lost 2nd, hung left and one pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Burrows Edge (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (3) sft in Feb.
Silver Kayf 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed before 2 out, lost 2nd before last, no extra, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Gunfleet (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Almost Gold (IRE) 125-1 (11-5) In rear, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 11, dist behind King Of Realms (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Ballymillen (IRE) 5-2 (12-2) Ww, last 1/2way, clsr 6out & hdwy 2nd 4out, chall 2out, 3l 2nd when lft clr last, kow, lucky, won at Moira 3m mdn hvy in Dec beating Outside The Ring (12-2) by 12l, 6 ran.
Kerry's Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, weakened and hung right after 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Indian Hawk (11-8) at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Stage Summit (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led, dived at 3 out, headed soon after 2 out, weakened before the last, 5th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Clondaw Native (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f mdn (3) sft in Dec.
Luma's Gift 150-1 (10-11) Pushed along and struggling after 5th, always towards rear, tailed off, 15th of 16, dist behind Lord Napier (11-4) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Lara Trot (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, never on terms, 7th of 10, 23 1/2l behind Spider's Bite (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
