held up in 6th, always going well, closed 5th, not fluent 3 out, led next, cruised clear flat
held up in 7th, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly next, in touch from 5th, not fluent 3 out, well beaten next
chased leader until 2nd, stayed in touch, not fluent and beaten 2 out, driven and edged right flat, closing on 2nd close home, no chance with winner
chased leaders, went 2nd from 2nd until after 6th, lost place 3 out
held up in 4th, took keen hold, closed 4th, went 2nd after 6th, led before 3 out, ridden and headed next, no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd
held up in 5th, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly 4th, headway when mistake next, not fluent 6th, stayed on one pace from 2 out, no impression
swerved left start and very slowly away, caught up with rear on bunch before 4th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
got flyer at start and clear until 4th, headed before 3 out, no extra last
MAKARI has a penalty to overcome but won on the bridle at Huntingdon last week and, with Nico de Boinville taking off 5lb, he's likely to be a short price to follow up here. The handicapper appears to have got to Sedgemoor Express while Macarthur struggles to get his head in front. Nether Stream, Western Approaches and Bin End all return from a break while Eightfold's run here earlier in the month was a big disappointment. Old Magic will have needed his run at Chepstow but usually competes at a lower level.
Makari 11-8fav (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, hit 5th, headway soon after, challenged from 3 out, led going well 2 out, clear last, eased final 100 yards, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Royal Defence (10-11) by 5l, 10 ran.
Nether Stream (IRE) 17-2 (10-9) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistakes 6th and 4 out, 8 lengths 5th when fell 3 out, in a race won by Apache Dawn (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f beg chase (4) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
Macarthur 3-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, closed when not fluent 3 out, ridden after next, went 2nd before last until home turn, one pace, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Smart Ruler (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Western Approaches 4-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, led on inside 3 out, headed and weakened rapidly before next, tailed off, 6th of 10, 27l behind Ugo (11-10) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sep '12.
Sedgemoor Express (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Letemgo (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Eightfold 18-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, some headway on outside after 6th, pushed along in 5th and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Alwaystheoptimist (11-10) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Bin End 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 39l behind Crafty Roberto (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Old Magic (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Led until before 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Hail Tiberius (10-9) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd.
