mid-division, headway 4 out, went 2nd and ridden after 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead final 110 yards, edged left, held on towards finish
behind, mistake 4th, struggling when hit 9th, never reached leaders
mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, one pace next, stayed on to take modest 4th last, never on terms
mid-division, dropped towards rear 5th, headway under pressure 3 out, went modest 4th next until blundered last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 11th, led after 5 out, ridden after 3 out, headed final 110 yards, kept on, held towards finish
tracked leader, mistake 8th, led 10th, headed after 5 out, ridden and lost place after next, soon weakened
behind, outpaced 4 out, never on terms
mid-division, tracked leaders, 11th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, dropped to mid-division 7th, in touch 11th, chased leading pair 4 out, ridden after next, no impression in 3rd from 2 out
raced keenly, soon in touch, weakened before 4 out, behind when pulled up before next
led to 10th, lost place next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
Plenty with claims in open-looking Grade 3. Sound Investment represents Paul Nicholls, who has won this in three of the last five years. The top weight wouldn't be far away on his best form but Royal Regatta is upped in distance and the weights after scoring narrowly at Doncaster. The latter's trainer, Philip Hobbs, also runs Ballygarvey but he is another who may be better over 2m and Simply Wings appears to have it all to do to reverse Wincanton running with Saint Raph. The latter is unexposed and is a danger to all receiving weight all round but we'll give a final chance to EASTER METEOR. He's now 3lb lower than when second over this track and trip last season and has been running a little better than his bare form suggests this term. Westward Point lacks a recent run but is worth a market check given his profile.
Sound Investment (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, making headway when hit 14th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, 13l behind The Young Master (10-9) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leading pair on outside, challenged 4 out, led narrowly next, driven 3 lengths clear before last, ridden flat, hard pressed toward finish, held on, won at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Jan beating Runswick Royal (11-9) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Seventh Sky (GER) 4-1 (11-13) Tended to jump left, led until 3 out, chased winner, ridden and no impression before next, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Traffic Fluide (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (3) gs.
Easter Meteor 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, closed 7th, lost place when hit wing of fence 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 10, 23l behind Annacotty (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Pressed leaders, went 2nd 5th, led and hit next, clear before 13th, headed 4 out, chased leader, led again 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed betwen last two, lost 2nd at the last, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 10, 18l behind Le Reve (10-13) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Ballygarvey (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Not fluent 1st, held up in 6th, headway and closer approaching 4th, one pace in 4th from 3 out, 4th of 8, 17l behind Brick Red (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Headly's Bridge (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Towards rear, jumped right and not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 6th, weakened before 5 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Quincy Des Pictons (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Midnight Belle 6-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear and in touch, headway before 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, challenged last, carried right run-in, kept on to lead close home, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Jan beating Granville Island (10-12) by hd, 7 ran.
Simply Wings (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along before omitted 3 out, well held when went right 2 out, left modest 3rd at the last, 3rd of 11, 44l behind Saint Raph (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Jan.
Westward Point 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed 8th led 4 out, clear and jumped left 2 out, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec '13 beating Dreams Of Milan (11-3) by 8l, 8 ran.
Saint Raph (FR) 6-1 (10-2) Chased leader, led and hit 5th, made rest, 1 length ahead when left well clear last, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Jan beating Tolkeins Tango (10-9) by 34l, 11 ran.
