held up in last pair, steady headway approachiing 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led soon after 2 out, pushed along came clear and stayed on strongly run-in, comfortably
led unitl 2nd, pressed leader, led again 3rd, joined 2 out, soonheaded, dropped to 3rd before last, weakened and lost 2 places run-in
held up in touch, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, stayed on sgain approaching last, went 3rd run-in, no real impression
chased leader, led before 2nd, headed next, pressed leader, blundered and reminders 4 out, mistake and weakened 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, went right and outpaced 2 out, stayed on again run-in, went 4th towards finish
took keen hold, chased leaders, challenged 3 out, stayed on to 2nd before last, no chance with winner
in touch until blunderd badly and almost unseated rider 4th, behind and no chance after, tailed off and eased, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, jumped slowly 2nd and next, headway 3 out, chasing leaders and every chance 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
raced wide in touch, ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off
This looks a tricky puzzle to solve but Flaming Charmer has to go on the short-list as he beat Thunder Sheikh at Warwick in January and didn't run badly back at that track off his new mark. Josh Hamer takes 7lb of French import Le Bacardy, who should strip fitter here, but Bladoun has been a little disappointing and it's not certain that the drop in distance will help. The Mumper is lightly raced and better than he showed at Taunton last time but there may also be more to come from EXPLAINED. His only two defeats have come over much longer trips and Tim Vaughan's charge should be thereabouts here given the weights are fairly compacted, apart from the mare Was My Valentine.
Le Bacardy (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside before 6th, every chance 2 out, no extra last, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 19l behind Barrakilla (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
Explained (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Held up in touch in mid-division, closed after 8th, 4th and weakening when mistake 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 13, 44l behind Master Of The Sea (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Bladoun (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, blundered 7th, went 2nd 3 out, mistake 2 out, not fluent last, readily held flat, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Sound Investment (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Chased leaders in 3rd, went 2nd after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Billy Twyford (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
The Mumper (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 29l behind Kilmurvy (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Flaming Charmer (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, close up after 3rd, chased winner before 2 out until last, kept on, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Cloudy Bob (11-8) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb.
Sutton Storm 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, fell 5th, in a race won by Cridda Boy (11-1) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Sirius Chesnut 9-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace, 4th of 5, 14l behind Pure Style (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Dec.
Was My Valentine 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, challenged from 5th, led after 3 out, ridden and edged left before last, edged left flat, soon headed, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Rocky Elsom (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
