led until after 2nd, remained prominent, pushed along 6th, weakened approaching 8th
prominent, led before 3rd, mistake 8th, soon headed, led again after next, headed 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 5 out, soon chasing leaders, led 3 out, clear after next, easily
in touch, lost place 4th, effort 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
prominent, ridden and weakened before 5 out, rallied 3 out, never dangerous
mid-division, lost place 9th, soon beaten
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon no impression
chased leaders, joined leader 7th, led 8th, headed after next, outpaced 3 out, stayed on after last, no chance with winner
behind, slow 4th, weakened 4 out, pulled up 2 out
keen hold in mid-division, ridden 5 out, soon beaten
An ordinary affair and it would be no surprise to see top weight Absolute Shambles in the firing-line, despite a break. Stop The Show stays well and is another with claims though he, too, has been off the track for a few months. We'll take a chance on ROYAL KICKS, who is no spring chicken and usually does his best work over fences but is potentially well treated if putting his best foot forward and Gavin Sheehan's 5lb claims is another factor in his favour. Red Anchor is the only one of these arriving in any kind of form but his recent win was over fences and a much shorter distance. He still has to prove his stamina over this sort of trip.
Absolute Shambles 20-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, pushed along 8th, reminders after 9th, tailed off, 7th of 8, 35l behind Overlay (10-4) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Red Anchor (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Made all, went right 7th, blundered 10th, in command 2 out, stayed on well, driven clear flat, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy beating Betheholygobbs (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Royal Kicks (FR) 16-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 11th, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Virginia Ash (11-0) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Stop The Show (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway 6th, soon chasing leaders, effort 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 10, 27l behind Elegant Olive (11-3) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Champion Versions (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) In touch, lost place after 2nd, some headway before 3 out, no impression, 8th of 17, 22l behind Seymour Eric (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Destined For Fame (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Held up in 5th, not fluent 8th and driven, pushed along 10th, reminders and struggling next, left in modest 4th after 11th, went poor 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Wild Ground (11-3) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec.
Hero's Call 40-1 (10-12) Raced wide, held up in rear, some headway 3 out, never near leaders, weakened before last, tailed off, 6th of 14, 46l behind Jupiter Rex (10-10) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec.
Acosta 20-1 (10-7) With leader, lost place after 7th, soon pushed along, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Jupiter Rex (10-10) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec.
Ineedaname 66-1 (10-3) In rear, tailed off 3rd, 10th of 12, well behind Faith Jicaro (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Aug.
Budsson 50-1 (10-0) Close up, led before 4th, headed 6th, weakened after 3 out, last of 9, 35l behind Romney Marsh (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
