held up off the pace in 6th, weakened 15th, tailed off
led and raced freely, went clear after 2nd, reduced lead when headed before 4 out, chased leader until before 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
chased leader who went clear after 2nd, lost 2nd when blundered and eventually unseated rider 14th
held up off the pace in 4th, hampered by loose horse 14th, closer in 3rd 4 out, 2nd before hit 2 out, led last, came clear run-in
jumped left, prominent early, soon lost place, behind 3rd, went left 14th, plugged on into remote 5th last
held up off the pace in 5th, lost place 12th, behind and struggling next, mistake 15th, no chance after, lost remote 5th last
held up off the pace in 7th, steady headway on outside 12th, left in 3rd place 14th, dropped to 4th before 4 out, weakened soon after
towards rear, lost touch 6th, tailed off and pulled up 10th
raced in 3rd behind leader who went clear after 2nd, went 2nd before 14th, led and went clear before 4 out, headed and not fluent last, not pace of winner
in rear, blundered 6th, fell 9th
Several of these have run in the race before. Tugboat won it back in 2015 and has also won over 2m4f at the track, though has been below par in a couple of runs under Rules this season. Grandioso was tailed off here in 2016 but Real Milan was second last year when only two finished. OPENING BATSMAN (NAP) hasn’t been disgraced since joining the hunter chase ranks. He’s taken on better opposition to date at Taunton and Hereford and should appreciate having his sights lowered. Broadway Symphony beat subsequent Fakenham winner Foxcub between the flags in January and looks the danger as Such A Legend has a bit to prove now.
Grandioso (IRE) 14-1 (12-6) Towards rear, ridden 5th, well beaten after 8th, pulled up before 3 out, at Leicester 2m (5) hvy in Mar.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 7-2fav (12-6) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, kept on into 4th at the last, no chance with leading duo, 4th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Shotavodka (12-6) at Hereford 2m 5f (5) sft in Jan.
Such A Legend 6-1 (12-5) (tt) led to 6; wknd 11; wl bhnd when pu 14, at Cottenham 3m gs in Dec.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 9-4 (12-7) Led til hdd aft 1; eff 12; one pce 3 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Hazel Hill (12-7) at Horseheath 3m gd in Feb.
Tugboat (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Tracked leader early, reminders before 4 out, weakened after last, 4th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Wells De Lune (12-4) at Ffos Las 2m 5f (4) hvy in Feb.
Broadway Symphony (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Made all; held on wl, won at Ampton 3m gd in Jan beating Foxcub (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Crazy Jack (IRE) 8-1 (12-5) In tch to 13, 7th of 13, 30 3/4l behind Grandturgeon (12-5) at Sheriff Hutton 3m gs in Jan.
Drive The Bus (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 12th on outer halfway, pushed along and no impression approaching 3 out, weakened, 9th of 14, dist behind Kemboy (11-4) at Killarney 2m 5f hcp gd in Aug.
Real Milan (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in touch in rear, headway chasing leaders after 6th, 3rd approaching 4 out, pushed along in 2nd before next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 22l behind Unioniste (12-6) at Fontwell 3m 2f (6) gs in Feb.
Vouvray (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Behind, mistake and unseated rider 3rd, at Ffos Las 2m 5f (4) hvy in Feb.
