in rear, hampered 6th, never on terms
prominent, led 4th, left clear 2 out, easily
in touch fell 6th
led, headed 4th, weakened 3 out, remote 2nd 2 out
chased leaders, every chance when fell 2 out
Knock Boy has been running well in this type of grade without quite getting there but the fact is that he's still a maiden over fences after 17 starts. GAINSBOROUGH'S ART was 9lb out of the handicap but still managed to land a poor contest at Bangor. He's been raised 5lb but the fast ground was put forward as the reason for his improvement and with similar conditions prevailing here he can complete a double. Sablazo had Tecktal 10 lengths behind when landing a novices' handicap at Fontwell in November and, though the latter is much more consistent, the winner can come out on top again of that pair.
Petit Ecuyer (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 6th, ridden after next, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 13, 34l behind Duaiseoir (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Topaze Collonges (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in 3rd, not fluent 4th, 16 lengths off front pair when blundered 5th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Overlaw (11-5) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar, 4 ran.
Sablazo (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 10, 16l behind Meridiem (11-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Gainsborough's Art (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, driven to challenge after 3 out, led last, ran on well, ridden out, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar beating Ballynonty (10-3) by 4l, 5 ran.
Tecktal (FR) 9-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders, joined leaders 10th, driven and outpaced in 3rd after 3 out, no chance with front pair from next, 3rd of 5, 30l behind Phoenix Des Mottes (9-7) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.
Knock Boy (IRE) 5-6fav (10-11) Tracked leading pair, tracked winner going well before 2 out, ridden between last 2, trying to close when hit last and gave up, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Launde (11-1) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Feb.
Benny The Swinger (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, reminders 8th, lost place next, behind when pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Hunt Ball (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
