tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 10th, clear 14th, went right next, ridden before 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, rider eased up close home, always holding on
took keen hold, held up in 4th, 3rd at 7th until 12th, reminders soon after, struggling 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
hit 1st, tracked leader, awkward 5th, blundered next and lost 2nd, not fluent and dropped to last 7th, rallied 12th, regained 2nd 14th, soon outpaced, rallied into 2nd 2 out, closed on eased down winner, not much room near finish, always held
jumped right, led until 10th, chased leader, lost 2nd 14th, 2nd again 16th, struggling before 2 out, dropped to 3rd 2 out, kept on run-in and closed on eased down winner, always held
This is a desperate contest with top weight Bang On Time pulled up in his last two. He did beat Shanann Star by a length-and-a-half at Wincanton in January, however, and re-opposes on the same terms. MINELLA BLISS is back over fences for the first time since scoring at Market Rasen in December. He stays well and is the default selection with veteran Chasers Chance on a long losing run.
Bang On Time (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up last, steady headway approaching 11th, pushed along in 5th after 14th, weakened before next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Midnight Request (11-4) at Exeter 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar, 13 ran.
Minella Bliss (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) In rear, ridden 3 out, never nearer, 6th of 9, 36l behind Capard King (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Shanann Star (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, weakened before 11th, tailed off 14th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Midnight Request (11-4) at Exeter 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar, 13 ran.
Chasers Chance (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) (cp) bhnd til bd bend app 5, in a race won by Repeat Business (12-0) at Mid Surrey Farmers Drag 3m ptp in Mar, 9 ran.
