close-up, almost joined leader after 4 out, pushed to lead before 2 out, ridden after 2 out and drew clear, readily
held up towards rear, took closer order before 3 out, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd before last, kept on behind easy winner
held up behind leaders, pushed after 3 out and outpaced, weakened before 2 out, stayed on again for 3rd late on
tracked leader early, weakened to rear before 8th, pushed after 4 out, ridden before 2 out but could make no impression
in rear, ridden in 5th before 3 out, never a factor
led, pestered after 4 out, headed and ridden before 2 out, weakened
NonRunner
An excellent renewal of this Listed contest and former pointer Ocean Drifter is not ruled out trying 3m for the first time under Rules. Anythingforlove won a Grade 2 at Sandown in February but she also steps up in trip and is a real mudlark. Yet another going over 3m for the first time, Stoner's Choice’s only defeat in his last five came when second to a subsequent Grade 1 runner-up at Market Rasen so he has to go on the shortlist. Deluxe Range has run well in both starts since scoring over an extended 2m6f at Kelso in December but looks held by Lord Of Kerak on Newcastle running. Threeunderthrufive was unbeaten over timber before finishing sixth in the Albert Bartlett but Nicky Richards’ six-year-old CASTLE RUSHEN (NAP) should relish this stamina test. He didn’t have the pace to cope with My Drogo in a Grade 2 over 2m2f at Kelso last time but the winner went on to run away with a Grade 1 at Aintree and the second was placed again next time at the highest level.
Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Mid-division, hit 7th, kept on run-in, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 16, 16 1/4l behind Vanillier (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Castle Rushen (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, shaken up when not fluent 4 out, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on well after 2 out and took distant 3rd after the last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind My Drogo (11-7) at Kelso 2m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Deluxe Range (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Tracked leader, joined leader 3 out, narrow advantage 2 out, mistake last, headed close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Le Cheval Noir (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Lord Of Kerak 5-2 (11-4) With leader, led 3rd, headed before last, took 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Wetlands (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f (3) sft in Feb.
Ocean Drifter (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Pulled hard, soon chasing leader, pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out where mistake, weakened quickly, pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Stoner's Choice 11-4 (11-12) Made all, mistake 4 out, clear between last 2, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Bells Of Peterboro (10-3) by 6l, 5 ran.
Anythingforlove 18-1 (11-2) Chased leaders and keen, 2nd after 3 out, led before last, stayed on dourly, driven out, won at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb beating Sandymount Rose (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
