held up, steady headway 11th, tracking leading trio next, 3rd before 4 out, 2nd 2 out, led soon after, clear when went right last, driven out
held up in last pair, jumped slowly 8th, struggling in 6th 13th, went left 3 out, modest 4th from 2 out, weakened into 5th run-in
led, went right 4 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, no chance with winner before the last, kept on to hold 2nd
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place after 12th, kept on again into 4th run-in, no danger
held up in last pair, mistake 4th, pushed along and struggling in 5th before 4 out, 6th and beaten when eased towards finish
chased leader, every chance when not fluent 3 out, lost 2nd next, kept on pressing for 2nd run-in but no chance with winner
not fluent, towards rear, struggling in rear before 13th, tailed off when blundered 3 out
chased leading pair, not fluent 7th (water), pushed along and lost 3rd before 4 out, weakened before next, blundered 2 out and pulled up before last
pushed along almost throughout, chased leaders, jumped slowly 9th, soon struggling, tailed off when pecked 12th
Nonrunner
On Trend can't get much lower in the weights and scored off a higher mark at Exeter around this time last year. But we'd like to see some signs of a revival before getting on board again. Shakalakabooboom is eased in grade but woefully out of sorts, though Geraghty still prefers him to stablemate Speedy Tunes. It's 15 months since Top Dancer last saw a racecourse but he has won around here and could play a part if fully wound-up and Noble Legend has been gradually rediscovering his best form over the last few weeks. The form of SHUIL ROYALE's Ludlow win hasn't worked out and he's 7lb higher. But this slight drop in distance is probably in his favour and he gets a token vote in a race in which most of his rivals are out of form.
Shuil Royale (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up, pecked 1st, headway after 11th, mistake 14th, challenged 3 out, soon led, driven flat, held on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb beating Shy John (11-1) by hd, 8 ran.
Shakalakaboomboom (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Not fluent 2nd, always towards rear, well beaten 18th, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Mon Parrain (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Noble Legend 7-2 (11-4) Led until approaching 6th, led again after next, headed last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Cloud Creeper (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Top Dancer (FR) 15-8fav (11-3) Held up in touch in 5th, not fluent 13th, headway 14th, outpaced 2 out, rallied under pressure flat, not pace to threaten, 5th of 8, 7l behind Fine Parchment (11-7) at Sandown 3m amat hcap chs (3) gd in Dec '13.
Hatters River (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, left 2nd 10th until next, outpaced from 12th, well beaten from next, refused last, in a race won by Tinker Time (11-6) at Kempton 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Bob Tucker (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, slow 11th, weakened 3 out, soon eased and pulled up, in a race won by Catching On (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Speedy Tunes (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, towards rear when blundered 6th, never on terms after, behind when blundered 14th, 10th of 11, well behind Tony Star (11-7) at Ludlow 3m nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Phone Home (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leader, lost 2nd briefly and reminder 10th, dropped to 3rd next, last and struggling 14th, soon no chance, continued tailed off, last of 4, well behind Ainsi Fideles (11-0) at Ascot 3m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.
On Trend (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, pushed along before 9th, went prominent 11th until before 12th where not fluent, outpaced 19th, well held after, plugged on from 2 out, 5th of 9, 31l behind No Duffer (11-8) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Back In June 9-2 (11-4) Led until 4th, given reminder, led 6th until 9th, reminders 11th and before leading 13th, headed 16th, weakened
