chased leaders, lost place 9th, driven and struggling in dispute of 4th 11th, left poor 4th next, tailed off
chased leaders, 2nd before 9th, led 9th until after 11th, soon driven along in 3rd, outpaced and no chance from 12th
chased leader, led 8th until next, chased winner after 11th, driven along and no chance from 13th (normal 4 out)
off the pace in last pair, headway approaching 9th, 3rd briefly after 10th, disputing modest 4th when blundered 11th, pulled up before next
made most until 8th, lost 2nd before next, chased leading pair until weakened after 10th, behind and pulled up before 12th
held up in rear and off the pace, headway approaching 9th, chased leading pair after next, led after 11th, clear after 13th (normal 4 out), easily
David Bridgwater and Tom Scudamore have a good chance again in this with Bally Sands, who would almost certainly have won a conditionals' race at Ludlow last week had he not lost concentration and tried to run out at the last. He should again beat Petit Ecuyer but it was hard not to be impressed by LEITH HILL LEGASI's victory at Lingfield last month. She looks a real stayer in the making and Charlie Deutsch again takes off 5lb. Cruising Bye gets little respite from the handicapper but should make the frame again as Royaume Blue and According To Them are out of sorts. Beware Chalk Pit hasn't run for a while but can go well fresh.
Bally Sands (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Led until 12th, led again 4 out, about 3 lengths clear when jockey almost took wrong course before last, headed on landing last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Always Bold (11-9) at Ludlow 3m cond hcp chs (5) sft.
Petit Ecuyer (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, not fluent 8th, led 12th, headed when not fluent 4 out, almost took wrong course before last, soon not much room and slipped, no extra flat, 4th of 7, 11l behind Always Bold (11-9) at Ludlow 3m cond hcp chs (5) sft.
Royaume Bleu (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Led, headed and reminders 11th, lost place before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, well behind Newton Thistle (10-3) at Towcester 3m hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Beware Chalk Pit (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Close up, reminder and lost place 7th, behind 9th, pulled up with a circuit to go, in a race won by Tarraco (11-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Leith Hill Legasi 11-4fav (10-7) Chased leaders, led after 6th, headed 8th, pushed along 12th, left in 2nd 4 out, led before next, soon challenged, stayed on strongly, won at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec beating Where'd Ya Hide It (10-1) by 36l, 7 ran.
According To Them (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Chased winner, led narrowly 12th until next, pushed along and lost 2nd going to 14th, soon outpaced and no chance after, 4th of 5, 15l behind Volio Vincente (10-3) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
Cruising Bye 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 14th until pushed along before 3 out, ridden and rallied into 2nd again after 2 out, challenged flat, no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Volio Vincente (10-3) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
