behind, chased leaders 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up behind, headway 3 out, challenged next, led before last, ridden out, kept on
jinked start, led before 1st, ridden and headed before 2 out where not fluent, weakened last
took keen hold, in touch, challenged 2 out, ridden and effort before last, kept on same pace in 3rd flat
mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged next, ridden before last, no impression in 4th flat
mid-division, in touch on outside before 3 out, effort before next, weakened before last
took keen hold, held up in touch, outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, mistake 5th, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, ridden and one pace when switched right between last 2, soon weakened
led to before 1st, tracked leader, lost place before 3 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led before next, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace
NonRunner
Fitness issues could affect Badgers Cove and Church Hall but both are quite well treated. Mountain Eagle will be fancied to chalk up a first victory under Rules after seconds at Southwell and Taunton but it's difficult to evaluate Cleni Wells' second at Pau in December. Guards Chapel was a fast-finishing runner-up at Huntingdon in December and has been placed on Polytrack since but Muhtaris will need to settle better than he did at Ascot and Dazinski and Fort Smith also disappointed last time. SUPER SCORPION will be in the firing-line and can stay out in front this time. A winning pointer, he steps back up in trip after two runs over 2m.
Super Scorpion (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Left in lead soon after 2nd, driven when challenged 3 out, headed and outpaced next, stayed on close home, 4th of 16, 14l behind Le Prezien (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Muhtaris (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Keen tracking leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up next, at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Fort Smith (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) Tracked leader until after 6th, weakened before 2 out, last of 8, dist behind The Artful Cobbler (10-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Mountain Eagle (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 5th, headway approaching 7th, close 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon no impression on winner, mistake last, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Mr Mix (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Dazinski 2-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, tracking leaders when blundered and stumbled badly 4 out, no chance after, weakened next, 10th of 17, 19 1/2l behind Proofreader (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Dubh Eile (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 12th of 14, dist behind Baron Alco (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Cleni Wells (FR) (10-10) 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Square Viviani (11-4) at Pau 2m 1f gs in Dec.
Guards Chapel 9-2 (9-13) Dropped out start, held up in last and behind, headway on inside over 2f out, pressed for 2nd 1f out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, no extra well inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind Tarakkom (8-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Badgers Cove (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Made all, driven clear before 2 out, comfortably, won at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Mic Aubin (10-6) by 3l, 7 ran.
Fin D'espere (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led narrowly 3rd, fell 5th, at Kempton 2m 5f (5) sft in Jan.
Church Hall (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, mistake next, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, hit 2 out, weakened into 5th and mistake last, 5th of 12, 14l behind Flintham (11-7) at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
