tracked leader, not fluent and lost place briefly 5 out, led 3 out, ridden before last, kept on well under pressure flat
tended to jump right, tracked leaders, went 2nd and poised to challenge after 3 out, not fluent last, ridden and one pace flat, switched inside and kept on towards finish, not quite reach winner
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, behind from next, reminders after 11th, left well behind from 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden between last 2, one pace after last, no impression with front pair flat
led, driven and headed when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, well held in 4th before last
COBRA DE MAI had to be ridden out to hold the late run of Got Away at Leicester but was always travelling best and may be capable of confirming that form, despite less favourable terms. Gala Ball and Valdez finished second and third behind San Benedeto in a Grade 3 here three weeks ago. The former was making his seasonal reappearance so will be fancied to come out best again, though the latter is a couple of pounds better off. Foxtail Hill won off a 9lb higher mark at the start of last season but his form nose-dived after. However, his latest fourth at Warwick offered some encouragement and he may get an uncontested lead in this.
Gala Ball (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Chased leader until 4th, prominent, 2nd again 4 out, led soon after next, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind San Benedeto (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Valdez 16-1 (11-0) Jumped right, chased leaders, pecked 12th, outpaced 2 out, kept on into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 16, 4 1/4l behind San Benedeto (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 11-10fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4 out, hard ridden last, stayed on strongly, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Got Away (11-9) by 1l, 4 ran.
Got Away (FR) 6-4 (11-9) Chased leaders, effort after 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Cobra De Mai (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, led and soon clear with one other, came back to the field 13th, ridden and headed 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, no extra and lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Drumlee Sunset (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
