briefly reluctant to race and held up, pushed along 3 out and soon outpaced, held 2 out, plugged on again after last
held up in last, outpaced 3 out and soon beaten
tracked leaders, lost ground 3 out and soon dropped away
chased leaders, headway over 3 out, led going best under 3 out, pushed along and pressed from before last, ridden and headed flat, rallied closing stages and just failed
close up, led 4th, headed under 3 out, pushed along and challenged approaching last, ridden and led flat, kept on until reduced lead close home, just held on
led, headed 4th, pushed along in 3rd over 2 out, outpaced by leaders before last, no extra flat
Queens Cave has a first run for Nicky Henderson having spent more than two years on the sidelines. IRISH HILL was cut down by the well-treated Punctuation here last month and carries 6lb more than his allotted weight but the four-year-old holds Mark Of Gold on that run and is getting 12lb from the hat-trick seeking Black Poppy, who only caught Straw Fan Jack in the shadows of the post here last time. Persia had lost his way when last seen in November and has changed stables since.
Straw Fan Jack 11-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, ridden 2 out, just over 1 length down last, stayed on well flat, strong challenge inside final 100 yards, disputing lead towards finish, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Black Poppy (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Persia (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) In rear, no headway, never a factor, 12th of 18, dist behind Mr Incredible (12-0) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Nov.
Queens Cave (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leader, ridden to challenge and led briefly before 2 out, outpaced into 3rd 2 out, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 6, 13 1/2l behind Marie's Rock (11-5) at Taunton 2m lst (1) sft in Dec.
Black Poppy 6-4fav (10-6) Chased leaders, led 2 out, driven and hard pressed inside final 100 yards, joined towards finish, just prevailed, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Straw Fan Jack (11-7) by shd, 6 ran.
Mark Of Gold 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, 4th and beaten before last, plugged on, 4th of 9, 9l behind Punctuation (11-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Irish Hill (GER) 4-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, brought stands side and led 3 out, about 1 length ahead when untidy last, headed inside final 100 yards, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Punctuation (11-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
