chased leaders, mistake 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led well before jumping left last, ridden and pressed flat, headed towards finish
held up in 4th, not fluent 3rd, shaken up and well beaten from 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake and struggling in last 3 out, plenty do to 2 out, rallied under pressure and switched left approaching last, challenged flat, led towards finish
held up in rear, headway approaching 4th, not fluent 3 out, weakened before last
chased leader, led before 3rd, soon headed, led again before 3 out, headed well before last, soon held, one pace
led until before 3rd, soon led again, headed approaching 3 out, outpaced 2 out, kept on flat
NonRunner
Forest Bihan is potentially well treated but has only run once over hurdles since 2016, at Haydock in November, and fell. Northern Beau is also better known as a chaser while stablemate Ask Himself has plenty to prove nowadays. Fransham does most of his winning at Wetherby and is on a new career-high mark after his third at Kempton. Stainsby Girl still looks a few pounds too high and this may be too short for Bon Retour, having a first run for Nicky Richards. After back-to-back wins in novice company, HOOLIGAN (NAP) was only third on his handicap debut at Exeter but there should be plenty more to come from Tom George’s unexposed six-year-old.
Fransham 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, travelling well before 2 out, every chance 2 out, hit last, weakened into 3rd inside final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Millers Bank (11-5) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Bon Retour (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, brought down 5th, at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Hooligan (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, still in rear but close up 4 out, headway to chase leader approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Trans Express (10-1) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Ask Himself (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Close up and disputed lead, slight error 4th, pressed leader and every chance 2 out, weakened quickly, last of 9, dist behind Mister Coffey (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Stainsby Girl 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, left in fourth 3 out, headway into third at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 15 3/4l behind Mick Maestro (11-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Northern Beau (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Led, headed after 1st, ridden 3 out, weakened before last, left third last, 3rd of 4, 25 1/2l behind Zambella (11-4) at Leicester 2m lst (1) sft in Jan.
Forest Bihan (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, headway on far side over 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Proschema (11-10) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Feb.
