mid-division, headway 12th, lost place and blundered 20th, mistake 21st, rallied on outside 4 out, 3rd and held 2 out, eased and pulled up before last
chased leader, slow 1st, blundered and unseated rider 21st
held up mostly in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, closed from 17th, led after 4 out, headed flat, soon led again, stayed on well, holding 2nd towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place after 6th, reminder before next, soon behind, pulled up before 8th
led, not fluent 5th, mistake 19th, slow 22nd, headed after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 1st, went 2nd briefly after 22nd, mistake 4 out, beaten from 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 15th, blundered 21st, headway on inside 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led flat, soon headed, held towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 1st or 14th, hampered 22nd, outpaced before 3 out, switched right before last, soon went 3rd and stayed on, no impression on front pair
mid-division on outside, jumped right, blundered 11th, headway after 16th, mistake next, left 2nd 21st until after next, no impression 3 out
always behind
towards rear, not always fluent, closed 10th, mistake 12th, in touch in mid-division when fell 18th
mistakes, always in rear, pulled up before 20th
A winner three times already this season, Cyclop is a dour stayer but he wasn’t at his best when favourite at Wincanton last month. Big River had a hard race in the Welsh Grand National but did finish alongside last Saturday’s Haydock winner Lord Du Mesnil and usually runs well in these top staying handicaps. The Dutchman was just touched off at Haydock in December and was leading the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day when falling four out. Crosspark has been desperately unlucky not to add to his win tally this season but keeps creeping up the handicap and is now 15lb higher than when winning this in 2019. SAM’S ADVENTURE came good in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock in December, beating Salty Boy in the process. He was the only one backed against the classy Royale Pagaille in last month’s Peter Marsh and still travelling when blundering and unseating his rider on the final circuit. Compensation awaits here with a clear round as Springfield Fox has questions to answer at present and Crossley Tender was only third off his new mark at Ascot so would need the longer trip to bring about further improvement.
Crosspark 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, mistake 15th, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, pushed along before next, went 3rd before 2 out, stumbled last, went 2nd run-in, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Seeyouatmidnight (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
The Dutchman (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Led, looked to be going well when fell 4 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Sam's Adventure 11-4 (10-7) Tracked leaders, blundered and unseated 6 out, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Big River (IRE) 28-1 (10-8) Towards rear, hampered 13th, never figured, 8th of 18, 19 1/4l behind Secret Reprieve (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Springfield Fox 10-1 (11-10) Towards rear, ridden after 11th, weakened after 13th, pulled up after 4 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Cyclop (IRE) 13-8fav (10-11) Towards rear, behind 8th, mistake 9th, badly hampered nearly unseated rider and behind 10th, pushed along before 4 out, headway chasing leaders after 4 out, mistake 2 out, went modest 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 12 3/4l behind Dawson City (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Crossley Tender 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, some headway when mistake 11th and 12th, slow 14th, stayed on well from 2 out, went 3rd flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 11, 5 1/2l behind Enqarde (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Salty Boy (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, outpaced after 3 out, well held after, 6th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Seaston Spirit (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Strong Economy (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, hampered 1st, nudged along 5 out, lost touch with leaders before 4 out, staying on well 2 out, went third last, ran on well to lead just before line, won at Ayr 3m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Buddha Scheme (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Haul Us In (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Prominent, slow 10th and pushed, ridden after 11th, soon beaten, 6th of 8, dist behind Tea Time On Mars (10-13) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Little Red Lion (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, headway 8th, went 2nd before 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Le Tueur (11-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Friends Don't Ask 9-1 (10-8) Close up, tracked leaders 7th, led 4 out, joined next, ridden and asserted flat, won at Fakenham 3m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Strictlyadancer (11-11) by 5 1/2l, 8 ran.
