held up in touch, led 5th, headed 9th, soon ridden, weakening when mistake 3out, pulled up before next
tracked leader, under pressure 3out, ridden to challenge next, kept on same pace
held up in rear, mistake 9th, soon lost place
behind, slow 8th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, led before 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra
mid-division, chased leaders after 7th, led before 2 out, ran on well
led until 5th, soon lost place, chased leaders approaching 8th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, lost place 5 out, behind when rider lost irons and pulled up before 2nd last
Harry Hogarth's Aitch Doubleyou won well enough when successful at Uttoxeter last month but an 8lb rise for that win makes an attempt to win again more difficult and he may be best watched this afternoon with preference for SEA VENTURE, who gets the vote over Colophony. Kevin Morgan's gelding made an encouraging return after more than a year off when third behind Pheidias at Fakenham last month and he has to be considered racing off a 4lb lower mark today but he could probably do with some more help from the handicapper. Graeme McPherson's Tighe Caster ran better here last time and has to be respected over a shorter trip today, although more solid claims are held by Or d'Oudairies, who has claims on the pick of his form but was a heavy faller last time and it is to be hoped that he is none the worse for that. The vote then goes the way of Tim Walford's Sea Venture, who lost no caste in defeat when chasing home Canada Street at Sedgefield last month and he has every chance of going one better today off a 4lb higher mark.
Pingaro De La Vire (FR) 28-1 (10-13) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, effort 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 17, 41l behind Master Eddy (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Sea Venture (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, always held, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Canada Street (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Ragador 8-1 (11-5) Towards rear, ridden approaching 11th, in 5th and no impression when not fluent 2 out, 5th of 10, 16l behind Or d'Oudairies (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb '09.
Colophony (USA) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed 7th, blundered 11th and lost place, outpaced 14th, kept on to go moderate 3rd before last, 3rd of 6, 35l behind Pheidias (11-0) at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) gd in Mar.
Or d'Oudairies (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Held up in rear, fell 5 out, in a race won by Cash On Friday (10-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 6 ran.
Tighe Caster 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and headway to 3rd 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Work Boy (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Aitch Doubleyou (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Chased leader until after 10th, slightly outpaced after 12th, rallied 4 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Mar beating Kinkeel (9-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Loco Grande (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Mid-division, plugged on from 3 out, 6th of 16, 23l behind The Disengager (10-6) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.