led, headed 3 out, soon lost place, ridden next, weakened flat
close up, went 3rd at 7th, led 3 out, joined next, ridden and asserted flat
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
keen, tracked leader, joined leader 4 out, challenged winner and upsides 2 out, kept on one pace
close up in 5th,headway 3 out, tracked leaders, ridden approaching last, kept on same
NonRunner
NonRunner
Shinooki arrives in the best form as he bids for a hat-trick but is upped in class off a 10lb higher mark than when winning at Catterick last time. Milly Baloo has been thereabouts since winning over 2m4f here in December but is now 20lb higher in the weights so SHANTOU TIGER is preferred. The latter ran well at Catterick in a higher grade than this when reverting to hurdling and should go close off his current mark in this company. Mercian King was placed over fences in France last year but faded badly in the closing stages over hurdles here on his first start for a new yard.
Shinooki (IRE) 10-11fav (12-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Mar beating Brae On (11-8) by 6l, 7 ran.
Moidore 3-1 (11-2) Led, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 5th, headed 4 out, outpaced in 3rd when ridden 2 out, left 2nd at last, kept on same pace, dropped to 4th near finish, 4th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Man From Seville (11-2) at Southwell 2m (4) gs in Feb.
Road To Freedom 11-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened before 2 out, last of 9, dist behind Delgany Demon (11-1) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Phare Isle (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders 8th, ridden before 3 out, no impression before next, stayed on to take modest 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 10, 18 1/4l behind Speredek (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Milly Baloo 9-4jfav (11-11) Held up in touch, mistake 3rd, chased leaders after next, mistake 8th, every chance after 3 out, led next, headed after last, kept on, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Young Lou (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Shantou Tiger (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Led until 2 out, one pace flat, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Hainan (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Mercian King (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 23 1/2l behind Herons Heir (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
