chased leader, led 6th, headed 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, headway before 12th, unseated rider 18th
towards rear, reminders after 5th, weakened from 14th, tailed off 16th, pulled up
in touch, mistake 8th, pushed along before 15th, pulled up before 4 out
led, headed before 6th, blundered 7th, ridden before 3 out, one pace
mid-division, headway before 16th, outpaced from next, plugged on and no impression
towards rear, badly hampered 1st, always behind after, pulled up before 17th
held up in touch, headway 15th to chase leaders, weakened before 4 out
towards rear, mistake 10th, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, weakened from 13th, soon tailed off, pulled up
always towards rear
chased leaders, led 6 out, headed 5 out, ridden from 3 out, kept on and held by winner run-in
mid-division, brought down 1st
rear division, weakened from 16th, pulled up before 17th
mid-division, headway 9th to chase leaders, led 5 out, kept on, driven out
chased leaders, fell 1st
behind, blundered 1st and soon badly hampered, blundered 11th, pulled up before next
close up, outpaced 5 out, plugged on from 4 out, no impression
SHOTGUN PADDY (NAP) finished runner-up in last year’s renewal ahead of Mysteree, 2015 winner Milborough and Portrait King, who won this way back in 2012. Emma Lavelle’s charge is 7lb lower this time round and looks to have every chance of going one better having run well for third in a tough Grade 3 handicap at Warwick last time. Milansbar, Knockanrawley, Mountainous and Russe Blanc all finished behind the selection at Warwick though the latter has since gone close at Carlisle. Out Sam has a shout off his current mark on his earlier third at Kempton while Harry The Viking beat subsequent winner Smooth Stepper at Kelso in December but was behind Straidnahanna at Catterick last month. Gevrey Chambertin is at home in this grade and on a decent mark while Alto Des Mottes won over these fences last month and is only 4lb higher today.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 11-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 7th, made rest, ridden after 2 out, held on well flat, won at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Gonalston Cloud (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, jumped left 5th, challenged 4 out, led next, headed last, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Blameitalonmyroots (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Milansbar (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and struggling before 6th, pulled up before 8th, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Streets Of Promise (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Close up, led 2nd, headed before 6th, weakened from 4 out, 3rd of 11, dist behind Goodtoknow (11-9) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Shotgun Paddy (IRE) 7-1fav (10-13) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost a few places before 6th, closed 4 out, 3rd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 20, 10 1/2l behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Hampered when in rear 2nd, soon struggling, well behind 8th, pulled up after, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Out Sam 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, no extra from before last, 4th of 14, 14 1/2l behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Smooth Stepper 13-2 (11-7) With leader, led 3rd, clear before last, kept on well, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Bigirononhiship (11-6) by 7l, 7 ran.
Milborough (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders in 4th, reminder before 8th, lost place 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 8, 34 1/4l behind Ami Desbois (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Berea Boru (IRE) 80-1 (10-4) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, never dangerous, 5th of 14, dist behind Bristol De Mai (11-2) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Mountainous (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, chased winner before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Goodtoknow (11-9) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Knockanrawley (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 10th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 20, 19 1/2l behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Portrait King (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened, jumped left last, 4th of 8, 9l behind Bryden Boy (12-0) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Russe Blanc (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, pushed along 11th, headway 13th, bumped into rival 15th, 3rd 4 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd and switched right towards finish, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Blakemount (11-6) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Mysteree (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-12) Last pair, tailed off when blundered 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Alto Des Mottes (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 15th, stayed on from 3 out, left 2nd next, bumped, carried right and led last, clear flat, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Fayette County (11-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Morney Wing (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) In rear, closed after 4th, lost place after 7th, behind 14th, pulled up before 16th, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Harry The Viking 17-2 (11-5) Led to 5th, chased leaders, driven 4 out, no impression before next, 7th of 14, 14 3/4l behind Straidnahanna (11-10) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
