chased leaders on outside, switched left after 2 out, driven and 1 length down last, soon 3rd and held, weakened inside 100 yards
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
held up in 5th, outpaced before not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, pushed along after 3 out, stayed on flat, never on terms
led until not fluent 2 out, soon well held, plugged on
chased leaders, led 2 out, driven and hard pressed inside final 100 yards, joined towards finish, just prevailed
Glory And Honour was an early faller when favourite at Musselburgh four weeks ago. Wild Max eventually finished fourth in that race but still looks too high in the weights. LORD BADDESLEY was a 66/1 chance in the Betfair Hurdle here last month but stayed on into fourth and a repeat of that effort today may well suffice. Black Poppy made a winning start in handicaps at Hereford but had to be hard ridden to land the odds and is 5lb higher now.
Wild Max (GER) 9-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 11 1/2l behind Socialist Agenda (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Straw Fan Jack 18-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Glory And Honour (IRE) 9-4fav (10-10) Tracked leader, fell 3rd, at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Lord Baddesley (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Held up well in rear, steady headway on inside approaching 3 out, chased leaders between last two, stayed on in 4th run-in, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Glory And Fortune (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Tap Tap Boom 33-1 (12-2) Led until before 2 out, weakened approaching last, last of 7, 24 1/4l behind Small Bad Bob (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Black Poppy 5-6fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led turning in, joined last, ridden and narrowly headed run-in, rallied gamely under pressure to lead again close home, won at Hereford 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Just The Man (11-12) by nk, 9 ran.
