led, hit 9th, headed 2 out, rallied and every chance last, no extra closing stages
behind, headway 12th, weakened 6 out, tailed off
in touch, lost place 6 out, soon tailed off
behind, blundered 4th and 5th, pulled up after next
mid-division when fell 10th
chased leaders, driven to lead 2 out, stayed on strongly
in touch when blundered and unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6 out, weakened 3 out
held up, mistake 4th, fell 13th
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
chased leaders, lost place 4th, rallied 6 out, chased leaders next, effort 3 out, stayed on same pace
prominent, mistake 5th, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on into 2nd close home
Ballydine ended last season with a victory at Sandown and Otago Trail won at the same track in February last year. Big River was placed at Uttoxeter in March while Baywing and Lake View Lad are both capable at this level but Testify recorded his hat-trick in testing ground and has undergone a wind operation since last in action. Bishops Road has the more recent form with a second at Haydock though faces tougher opposition today and a chance is taken on SHARP RESPONSE. Sue Smith’s charge faded in the closing stages over a longer trip at Cheltenham a fortnight ago but drops in class for this and won with plenty in hand at Carlisle before that.
Otago Trail (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, led 2 out, clear when went right and stumbled on landing last, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Loose Chips (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Baywing (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 5 out, mistake 2 out, chased winner and hit last, kept on and always held by winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Smooth Stepper (10-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Apr.
Testify (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked front pair on outside, lost place 12th, soon behind and struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Templehills (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Close up when hit and fell 11th, at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Big River (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up, not fluent 8th, headway normal 4 out, every chance 2 out, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Behind Time (10-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Lake View Lad (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway 5 out, blundered 3 out, outpaced before 3 out, in 3rd from last, kept on, 3rd of 10, 10 1/2l behind Smooth Stepper (10-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Apr.
Bishops Road (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, went 2nd halfway, effort when mistake last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Red Infantry (11-9) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ballydine (IRE) 4-1fav (10-11) Held up in m id-division, headway chasing leaders before 2nd, tracked leader and hit 17th, chased new leader 3 out, led between last 2, joined last, stayed on under pressure run-in, won at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Holly Bush Henry (10-13) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Solighoster (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, beaten 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Traffic Fluide (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Ami Desbois (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Towards rear, weakened before 5 out, pulled up, at Wetherby 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Sharp Response (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) In touch, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened next, 8th of 15, 22 3/4l behind Rock The Kasbah (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, slow and lost place 3rd, not much room when mistake 5th, not fluent 10th, well behind from 12th, 8th of 11, dist behind War Sound (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.