held up in midfield, chased leader 6th, ridden to press leader 4 out, upsides 3 out, led 2 out where rider lost irons, headed last, no extra flat
led, blundered 9th, ridden 4 out, joined 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, towards rear 7th, lost touch 9th, ridden before 11th, fell 12th
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, ridden before 4 out, weakened from 2 out
midfield, ridden and close up before 3 out, chased leader 2 out, led last, stayed on strongly flat
First Account completed a double of hurdles and fences in February last year but hasn't been seen since the following month. I'm To Blame has won at this level over hurdles but took a heavy fall at Musselburgh in February and has been well beaten subsequently. It's just over two years since Cracking Find completed a double at a higher level than this and should have retained some ability though DEFI SACRE won with a bit in hand at Ascot a couple of weeks ago and looks the one to beat. Ascot De Bruyere won here in November and made a bold bid to lead all on a return visit last month though had no answer when Rock On Fruity went past at the second last.
Defi Sacre (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Pressed leader who went clear after 7th, closer at 7th, led briefly 11th, definite advantage 3 out, clear before 2 out, driven 1 length ahead last, came further clear run-in, won at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Marracudja (11-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
I'm To Blame (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Keen towards rear, last jumping 4th, pushed after 3 out and detached, ridden before 2 out where went 5th, kept on one pace, 5th of 6, 33 3/4l behind Ashington (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Ascot De Bruyere (FR) 2-1 (11-8) Led, reached for 14th, went left from 4 out, soon ridden, headed before last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Rock On Fruity (12-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
First Account 4-6fav (11-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, pushed along when mistake 2 out, beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 4, 8 1/4l behind Skiddaw Tara (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 1f (4) sft in Mar.
Cracking Find (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) Led early, chased leader, led after 12th, headed before 4 out, soon beaten, 7th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Dubai Angel (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Feb.