chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 4 out, strongly pressed last, headed and no extra flat
in touch, ridden and hit 3 out, weakened soon after
held up in rear, headway into 4th and ridden 2 out, no impression on leaders when left 3rd last
chased leaders, hit 3 out, driven next, left 2nd last, driven ahead flat
led, blundered and headed 4 out, weakened quickly soon after, well behind when blundered 2 out and pulled up
chased leader to 4th, chased leaders, went 2nd again soon after 4 out until weakened 2 out
held up, ridden and no impression from 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon one pace and no impression next
took keen hold early, held up in rear, good headway on inside after 3 out, tracked leader 2 out, challenging and going well when fell last
Nonrunner
Not the strongest of races for the track and preference is for bottom-weight INDIAN BLOOD ahead of fellow recent winners Olympian and Red Admiral. Owned by David Johnson, the selection represents Paul Nicholls who has a good record here. He has an 11lb higher mark than when winning at the track last time but he is still open to plenty of improvement and this ex-French handicapper is a confident selection. He handles good ground and as long as he settles then he won't be far away. Olympian has been given a three-month break since a Wincanton success where he got the better of Oldrik, form that looks solid. He doesn't have a spectacular strike-rate but cannot be dismissed off an 8lb higher mark. Secret Tune is another recent winner in the race and he did it nicely at the track. This was at a time that Tom George's horses were in top form and the handicapper was impressed too as he has raised the horse 9lb in the weights and despite the booking of Tony McCoy he needs to improve. Serhaaphim's record is frustrating, whilst Wingman and Polyfast need to improve on recent efforts but both are starting to appear to be nicely-treated. Red Admiral has a good strike-rate and as a result is once again up in the weights. Quick ground is not a problem judging by his old form but a 6lb rise in the weights might be. A tricky race to end with, but Indian Blood is still a confident selection.
Wingman (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Chased leader, led 3 out, narrowly headed 2 out, weakened soon after last, 5th of 8, 6l behind Secret Tune (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Chivalry 16-1 (10-2) Mid-division, lost place 6th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lough Derg (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan, 18 ran.
Red Admiral (USA) 13-2 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ran on on far side to lead flat, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan beating Nortonthorpe Lad (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Secret Tune 11-2 (10-8) Held up in touch, driven and quickened to challenge last, soon led and stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Mutual Friend (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Light Yield (USA) 9-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, in touch, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off, 16th of 19, well behind Royaleety (10-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Polyfast (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, weakened soon after 2 out, beaten when hampered soon after last, 6th of 10, 22l behind Indian Blood (10-6) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Cnoc Moy (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) In touch, challenging when not fluent 3 out, beaten when blundered last, 7th of 9, 17l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Olympian (FR) 7-2jt-fav (11-0) Held up, headway after 3 out, ridden and challenged after 2 out, hard ridden and ran on well to lead post, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Oldrik (10-11) by a ns, 13 ran.
Indian Blood (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Pulled hard, held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, challenging and going well when left clear last, driven out, won at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Feb beating Kevkat (11-10) by 6l, 10 ran.
Serhaaphim 9-2 (11-6) Chased leaders until dropped to rear 6th, well behind and struggling 3 out, blundered next, mistake last, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Victorias Groom (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
