tracked leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway into mid-division 3rd, pushed along and hung left after 4 out, rallied chasing leaders and went 2nd before 3 out, hung left between last two, switched left renewed effort and every chance run-in, outbattled final 100 yards
mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and outpaced before 2 out
held up off the pace towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, went never dangerous 5th towards finish
towards rear on inside, struggling in rear 4 out, tailed off
off the pace towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, headway on inside after 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, held when mistake last
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, pushed long on inside in mid-division before 3 out, 3rd briefly before next, 4th and beaten when hung left between last two, weakened and lost places run-in
always behind, struggling after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up soon after
pressed leader, ridden and lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened quickly and soon behind, tailed off
led, strongly pressed 2 out, clear before last, strongly pressed run-in, battled on gamely and on top final 100 yards, driven out
This looks wide-open but Alan King has a couple of interesting runners in Who Dares Wins and Coeur de Lion. Both useful stayers on the Flat, the former was eight lengths behind Risk And Roll at Huntingdon in January but is now 11lb better off with the latter finishing behind Coeur de Lion here subsequently. Solo Saxophone hasn’t won over hurdles since 2019 but has won five times since on the level. Hurricane Harvey has a higher rating over fences but hasn’t run over timber in almost two years and Barbados Buck's showed nothing back over hurdles at Wincanton having failed to take to fences. Scarpia ran out when in the lead at Doncaster having won earlier at Plumpton. If that was only a temporary blip, he could go close in this while Guerlain De Vaux is unexposed and improving but we’ll take a chance on STELLAR MAGIC as Philip Hobbs’ gelding should be suited by the step up to 3m and has his ground again.
Barbados Buck's (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) In rear, ridden 8th, made no impression, pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Who Dares Wins (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, closed after 4 out, pressing for 2nd from before 2 out, no impression on winner, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Risk And Roll (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Stellar Magic (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden home turn, went 3rd 2 out, kept on but not pace to challenge, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Sizable Sam (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Risk And Roll (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, edged left before last, hung left and kept on into modest 3rd nearing finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind The Brimming Water (10-9) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Solo Saxophone (IRE) 5-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Author's Dream (9-8) at Southwell 2m hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Hurricane Harvey 11-1 (10-3) Not always fluent, towards rear, pushed along briefly before 2nd, slightly hampered 7th, driven along 9th, never involved, 8th of 16, 35 3/4l behind Windsor Avenue (11-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Scarpia (IRE) 6-4fav (11-1) Soon led, ran on out normal 5 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Coeur de Lion 15-2 (10-4) Keen at times, held up, steady headway out wide approaching 3 out, led going well 2 out, joined last, ridden and edged left run-in, headed inside final 100 yards, rallied, always held, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind The Brimming Water (10-9) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Guerlain De Vaux (FR) 15-8 (11-5) Led until after 2nd, mostly chased leader after until dropped to 3rd briefly 9th, not clear run on near side rail and switched left approaching 2 out, 2 lengths down last, stayed on under pressure to lead run-in, held on, won at Catterick 3m 1f (4) gs in Jan beating Gredin (11-5) by hd, 6 ran.
Potters Hedger 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, disputed 3rd 9th, ridden to chase clear winner 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 21l behind Ballyandy (12-0) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Vive Le Roi (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Mid-division, closed before 3rd, outpaced approaching 3 out, plugged on flat but lacked pace to get on terms, 5th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Weebill (11-7) at Leicester 2m (4) sft in Feb.
