jumped slowly 1st, held up in last pair, jumped right 2nd, reminders 7th, soon struggling, ridden to chase leading pair after 4 out, 4 lengths down when not fluent next, rallied and ran on to lead near finish
tracked leader, lost place 8th, struggling when mistake 10th, weakened 4 out
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8th, stayed on to lead last, ridden 3 lengths clear flat, headed and no extra near finish
led, driven 3 out, headed when mistake last, lost 2nd and no extra flat
held up in last pair, bumped and rider lost iron 2nd, effort to chase leading pair 9th until after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
Last month's Ludlow third Akarshan should be up to winning off his current mark before long but he looks likely to find PYRACANTHA too good in this contest. Well beaten in testing conditions at Sedgfield last time, Alan Swinbank's charge will relish today's faster ground and can return to winning ways. Approved Force posted a better effort at Kempton recently but is stepping up a grade here, while Don Castille and Park's Prodigy have plenty to find judged on their form over fences so far.
Pyracantha 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 12th, blundered badly next, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 50l behind The Knoxs (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chase (4) sft in Feb.
Approved Force (USA) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, mistake 11th, under pressure 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied after next, stayed on to go 3rd approaching last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Lordsbridge (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Akarshan (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) In touch in mid-division, closed 6th, ridden and disputing 2nd after 13th, close 3rd when not fluent last, one pace flat, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Russian Epic (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Don Castille (USA) 8-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, mistakes 5th and 8th, went 2nd 9th, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead when mistake went right and unseated rider last, in a race won by Nesnaas (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jul '09, 8 ran.
Park's Prodigy 12-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, held up, headway when hit 5th, 4th and outpaced after 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 9, 17l behind Babysitter (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
