led but pressed, mistake 6th, headed 4 out, rallied over 2 out, ridden and every chance before last, outpaced by leaders flat but kept on
close up, led 4 out, headed 3 out, ridden and challenged from before last, ran on until outpaced by winner closing stages
chased leaders, pushed along over 4 out, ridden in close 4th over 2 out, ran on to lead narrowly before last, asserted flat and on top close home
tracked leaders, lost place briefly after 9th, headway to lead 3 out, pressed from under 2 out and headed before last, weakened flat
held up in touch, pushed along when mistake 4 out, left behind under 3 out
Three of these were winners last time and the other two were beaten favourites. It was soft going when Keep Rolling bolted up at Hereford but he’d won earlier on good ground at Uttoxeter and shouldn’t be far away again upped in grade. Nestor Park placed over 3m2f here before winning over an extended 2m6f in February. Java Point has won twice at Ludlow since the turn of the year and Switch Hitter still has time of his side but PATROCLUS (NAP) could be the answer to this. He is likely to do better now going left-handed though still ran well behind a rejuvenated Flegmatik at Kempton, splitting two subsequent winners.
Nestor Park (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Led, went clear 11th until before 4 out, ridden and narrowly headed last, rallied gamely to lead again run-in, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Yes Indeed (11-9) by 4 1/4l, 6 ran.
Switch Hitter (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) Chased winner throughout, pushed along after 4 out, ridden after next, ridden and hung right from before last, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Orrisdale (11-0) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Java Point (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader until 15th, soon outpaced, rallied 3 out, led before last, stayed on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Head To The Stars (11-6) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Patroclus (IRE) 4-1fav (11-11) Chased leader until before 5th, went 2nd again 7th, led 4 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, ridden and well held before the last, no chance with easy winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Flegmatik (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Keep Rolling (IRE) 9-2 (12-2) Mid-division, hit 11th, headway to track leaders before 12th, pressed leader before 3 out, pushed along and led approaching last, ridden out and went clear run-in, won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Fabrique En France (11-12) by 13l, 6 ran.
