led until mistake and headed briefly 3rd, headed next, pressed leader, led again 8th (water), headed 13th, in front again 3 out, came easily clear run-in
tracked leaders, led briefly 3rd, led next until 8th (water), in front again 13th until pushed along and headed 3 out, stayed on same pace between last two, no chance with winner
tracked leaders on inside, went 3rd at 9th, challenged on bit out wide 4 out, every chance when reached for 2 out, no chance after, kept on run-in
jumped right most of way, soon behind and never involved
jumped right, tracked leading pair until 9th, chased leading trio, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, weakened soon after
NonRunner
Flash Collonges has slipped down the weights a little and was only beaten a length last time at Kelso. Tip Top Cat won at Uttoxeter in January on only his second start over fences but NEON MOON (NAP) was just touched off at Taunton two runs ago and then ran a cracker in a better race at Ascot – he can race off the same mark in this. Sam Barton didn’t get far at Wincanton two weeks ago but is closely matched with Tip Top Cat on collateral form while Pass Me By has found only one too good in two of his three chase starts and is not out of this.
Flash Collonges (FR) 10-3 (11-10) Led, not fluent and headed last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Ned Tanner (10-11) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Sam Barton 9-2 (11-4) Jumped right and badly hampered 1st, rider lost iron and did well to stay on but unable to recover, pulled up before 2nd, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Neon Moon (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway 4 out, went 4th home turn, joined leaders 2 out where not fluent, soon pushed along, kept on, well held by winner run-in, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Cap Du Nord (10-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Tip Top Cat (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along from 5 out, headway to go 2nd 2 out, every chance when almost upside last, ran on to lead final 100 yards, won going away, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jan beating Autonomous Cloud (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pass Me By 4-1 (11-7) Close 3rd on inside, reminders after 11th, outpaced and pushed along 13th, rallied out wide 3 out, soon ridden, driven between last two, went 2nd inside final 100 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Love Actually (11-3) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Charles Ritz 10-1 (12-0) Off the pace towards rear, bit closer in mid-division after 4 out, no further headway, 6th of 12, 21l behind Kings Keeper (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
