chased leaders, blundered and lost place 5th, hit 9th, rallied into 3rd after 3 out, went 2nd before went left last, no chance with winner
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, fell heavily 4 out
tended to jump left, pecked 1st, led, went clear before 10th, headed before 2 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd beforun-inre the last, blundered last, weakened into 4th
raced wide, chased leaders, weakened before 10th, hampered next, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in
bit wide and hung left most of way, chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out
raced keenly in last pair, hit 8th, good headway approaching 10th, left 2nd 4 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily
pulled hard in rear, headway chasing leaders 5th, went 2nd 7th until 10th, chased leaders, badly hampered and rider lost irons 4 out, not recover mistake next
NonRunner
Finnegan's Garden has won four times here including this race in 2019 and the veteran is back on a winning mark. But he finished a long way behind Away For Slates at Fontwell last time and the latter has subsequently landed a double when scoring back at the same track. Billy's Angel also has something to find with the latter but COUNTERACT improved sent over larger obstacles for the first time and winning at Wincanton. Suzy Smith’s charge can defy a hike in the weights with more to come while Avoir De Soins may prove best of the rest if taking to the faster going.
Away For Slates (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Mid-division, niggled along slightly after the 7th rounding the paddock bend, headway to chase leading pair 4 out, further progress 3 out, pressed leader 2 out and soon led, not fluent last, ridden and kept on run-in, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in Mar beating Postman (10-13) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Captain Cuckoo 28-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not much room 4th, getting behind front pair 10th, well beaten after 13th, blundered 3 out, left 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, dist behind Marown (11-3) at Wetherby 3m (3) gs in Mar.
Billy's Angel (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, ridden and outpaced soon after 3 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Glimpse Of Gold (10-13) at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Finnegan's Garden (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Midfield, progress to chase leader 4 out, ridden and close up 3 out, weakened after 2 out, last of 6, 11 1/2l behind Away For Slates (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Avoir De Soins (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, steady headway tracking leaders after 8th, 4th and no impression from 4 out, 4th of 10, 29 3/4l behind Ring The Moon (11-7) at Taunton 2m 6f hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Counteract 8-1 (10-1) Held up, raced keenly, headway on outside 3rd, left challenging 13th, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Mar beating Prince Llywelyn (12-2) by 9l, 8 ran.
Ardbruce (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 9th, went 6 lengths 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 2 out (normal 3 out), at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Nobel Leader (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up, ridden 4 out, no impression, pulled up before last, at Huntingdon 2m hcp (5) gs in Mar.
