tracked leaders, effort over 3f out, no extra final furlong
held up towards rear, headway halfway, weakened 5f out
in touch, effort over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
made all, stayed on strongly final 2f
mid-division, pushed along and outpaced over 5f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 5f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to go 2nd over 3f out until no extra near finish
towards rear, pushed along over 5f out, headway under pressure over 2f out, no further progress
in touch, outpaced over 4f out, headway under pressure over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to go 2nd near finish
in touch, ridden over 5f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden halfway, no danger after
Darstardly Dick, Diablo and Autumn Harvest are the three that make the shortlist here, with Dastardly Dick taken to score. Diablo represents Nigel Twiston-Davies who is always to be respected when he sends runners north, and this former point to point winner makes his debut under rules. The market should be watched for any confidence but he is taken on here. After scoring at Kelso, Autumn Harvest has met defeat twice since, but he has run respectably, and they were in good class contests. He looks sure to be thereabouts. Darstardly Dick was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his Taunton bow, and he won very impressively. He carries a penalty here, but that is unlikely to prevent him following up.
Darstardly Dick (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Held up, headway 8f out, led over 2f out, ran on strongly, comfortably, won at Taunton 2m 1f nhf (6) hvy in Mar beating Beat The System (10-10) by 9l, 8 ran.
Autumn Harvest 10-1 (11-2) Keen in rear, headway over 4f out, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 15, 10l behind Lord Generous (10-12) at Cheltenham 1m 4f nhf lst (1) gs in Jan.
Weather Front 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and headway 3f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 15, 11l behind Lord Generous (10-12) at Cheltenham 1m 4f nhf lst (1) gs in Jan.
Diablo (IRE) (12-0) won at Farmacaffley 3m ire ptp gs in Feb beating Raleagh House (12-0) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Dickie Bow (IRE) Taipan gelding, half-brother to three winning jumpers.
Pontop (IRE) Shernazar gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Pressman 17-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened over 4f out, 12th of 15, well behind Touch of Irish (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nhf (6) gs in Jan.
Carndonagh (IRE) Old Vic gelding out of T T Two.
Carrickboy (IRE) Silver Patriarch gelding, half-brother to 6f-7f winner Times Square.
Gavroche Gaugain (FR) Varese gelding, half-brother to three winners on the flat.
Heart O' The West (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Led, ran wide and headed after 3f, remained prominent, led again over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Teenage Idol (10-12) at Ayr 1m 6f nhf (6) hvy in Dec.
Samsons Rock Overbury gelding out of flat and hurdles winner Kadari.
Miss Colima Milieu mare out of winning chaser Miss Colette.
Bahia Blanca (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, eased final furlong, 18th of 19, well behind Dayia (10-10) at Sandown 2m mrs lst nhf (1) gd in Mar.
Cuigny (FR) Freedom Cry gelding out of an unraced mare.
Fortysecond Street (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of an unraced mare.
Vivona Hill Overbury gelding out of winning jumper Lets Go Dutch.
