tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, lost place 10th, struggling when jumped left and mistake 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
led, jumped right and hit 3rd, jumped right next, headed 4 out, no impression on winner from next, lost 2nd flat, one pace
held up in touch, went 2nd 6th, challenged 9th, switched right approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, lost place 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in last, not always fluent, mistake 8th, some headway after 12th, hit 4 out and weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, challenged 11th, led 4 out, clear from next, coasted home, heavily eased closing stages
held up in touch, ridden after 5 out, hit 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, went 3rd 3 out until before last, weakened flat
held up in rear, some headway 12th, outpaced after 5 out, rallied from 3 out, went 3rd approaching last, stayed on to take 2nd flat, flattered by proximity to winner
mid-division, not fluent 10th, effort after 5 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
jumped right, towards rear, not fluent 5th, behind 7th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader until not fluent 6th, lost place 8th, behind 11th, pulled up before 3 out
Calusa Caldera won this 12 months ago off a 3lb lower mark and is tried in blinkers today in an attempt to spark a revival. Sound Stage has gone well here in the past and was more like his old self when third on his latest start at Sandown while Milgen Bay has yet to finish out of the frame over fences, though only beat one home when favourite at Southwell last time. Arrayan should improve on his fourth to Hunt Ball at Kempton but may be a little high in the weights while Masked Man was a 25/1 chance when winning an amateurs' race at Sandown earlier this month and will do well to follow up that success here. Ogee was second at Fakenham on his comeback run but we'll take a chance on the potentially well-treated AIMIGAYLE, who has plenty in her favour regarding trip and ground and will be all the better for her reappearance in a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot.
Ogee 15-2 (11-12) Held up, slow first, headway 5 out, chased winner next, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 8l behind On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Aimigayle 50-1 (10-0) Chase leader, led after 2nd until after 4th, chased leader until approaching 7th, weakened quickly 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bourne (9-11) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Bai Zhu (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) In touch, headway to 3rd at 11th until 13th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 12, well behind Fruity O'Rooney (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec.
Masked Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in 6th, good headway to chase leaders 12th, went 4th at 14th, went 2nd 18th, led approaching 3 out, clear from next, stayed on well, won at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gd beating Red Harbour (11-11) by 5l, 10 ran.
Arrayan 14-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, pecked 7th, blundered 9th, stayed on approaching 3 out, went modest 4th and went left 2 out, 4th of 8, 25l behind Hunt Ball (11-11) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Triangular (USA) 10-1 (11-0) Hamperd 1st, in touch on outside 4th, went 2nd 12th, led narrowly 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Cruchain (10-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jan.
Calusa Caldera (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, last of 8, 28l behind Cool Friend (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Sound Stage 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, with leader 4 out, every chance 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd place last 50 yards, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Cool Friend (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Prominent, hit 3rd, jumped right and lost place 7th, behind from 11th(water), tailed off 16th, pulled up after, in a race won by Marufo (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd, 10 ran.
Milgen Bay 11-10fav (11-12) Tracked leader until weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 4, 13l behind That's The Deal (9-11) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Feb.
Oscar Close (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up, bumped 4th, headway 11th, ridden after next, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, slightly short of room and demoted to 4th flat, 4th of 9, 7l behind Esteem (9-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
River Indus 11-1 (10-7) Led until after 1st, chased winner until ridden 12th, lost place soon after, weakened before next, soon tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Mortimers Cross (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
