tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 11th, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakened after next
disputed lead until led 7th, made rest, driven 2 out, ran on strongly
disputed lead until 7th, tracked leader after, blundered 9th, pushed along after next, weakened before 5 out, tailed off from next, modest 3rd
chased leaders, under pressure after 10th, tailed off next, moderate 4th
None of this quartet have been at their best of late so a tentative vote goes to last year's winner ULTIMATUM DU ROY. Alex Hales' charge can race off a lower mark this time round if a conditional's allowance if taken into account. Bucking The Trend has slipped 10lb down the weights since returning to action in October and drops down a grade along with Master Rajeem, third at Doncaster in December without threatening the winner. The Society Man has even less to recommend him with just one win over hurdles to his name and that was back in 2012.
Ultimatum Du Roy (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Always in rear, pulled up 4 out, at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Bucking The Trend 12-1 (11-9) In touch, dropped to rear 6th, headway 11th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 30 1/4l behind Beforeall (11-11) at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Master Rajeem (USA) 16-1 (10-7) Prominent, not fluent 6th, ridden and lost a few places 10th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 13, dist behind Ziga Boy (10-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
The Society Man (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, struggling and reminders after 7th, soon behind, tailed off 5 out, left remote 4th 3 out, 4th of 5, dist behind Some Finish (10-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
