held up in rear, headway from 3 out, tracking leaders when badly hampered 2 out, not recover and well beaten after
tracked leader, not fluent 4th, every chance when fell 2 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, close up when went slightly left on landing last, ridden and not quicken, one pace
chased leaders, ridden and lost place before 2 out
mid-division, took keen hold, closed from 3 out, challenged last, every chance flat, held towards finish
mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, switched right before 2 out, challenged last, hung left and led flat, stayed on, in command towards finish
raced freely, led, pressed from 2 out, headed flat, stayed on same pace
NonRunner
I’M A GAME CHANGER easily handled to step up to handicap company at Ludlow after getting off the mark at Bangor. He’s been hit with a 12lb rise but looks a progressive individual and a hat-trick beckons. Maestro Royal could be a danger if his latest run at Cheltenham is ignored as he won in this grade at Sandown earlier. Zarib looked a smart prospect when making a winning debut over hurdles here in 2014 but he’s struggled to get his head in front recently, though is still preferred to stablemate Optimus Prime. Prairie Town had been chasing prior to falling in the Imperial Cup and Minella Charmer’s future also lies over the larger obstacles - Wayne Hutchinson prefers the returning Inner Drive today.
Optimus Prime (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Led, set strong pace, clear after 3rd, headed before 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up next, at Musselburgh 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Feb.
Minella Charmer (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Jumped badly left throughout, held up last, closer in 4th at 7th, went badly left and jumped into eventual winner and hampered 9th, outpaced when reached for 10th, left poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 16 1/2l behind Gala Ball (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Feb.
I'm A Game Changer (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, challenging when not fluent and led 2 out, clear flat, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Dino Velvet (11-3) by 11l, 12 ran.
Zarib (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Slow 1st, in last pair, well in touch after 3 out, ridden and one pace before next, 4th of 6, 12l behind The Unit (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Inner Drive (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Tracked leading trio, 3rd at 7th, held when blundered 3 out, struggling next, lost modest 3rd at the last and weakened into 5th run-in, 5th of 6, 36l behind Le Mercurey (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f (3) sft in Nov.
Maestro Royal 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 5th, not fluent 3 out, pushed along after next, soon beaten, 7th of 14, 16 3/4l behind William H Bonney (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Prairie Town (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, effort after 2 out, beaten and disputing 7th when fell last, at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Tara River (FR) 33-1 (12-5) In rear, wandered into 1st, reminder after 4th, outpaced 3 out, well beaten next, last of 5, 36 1/2l behind The Gipper (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
