held up off the pace in 4th, closer tracking clear leading pair before 3rd, awkward 8th, trying to close on outside when not fluent 3 out, no chance after
led until after 2nd, pressed winner, led again 5th, went left 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, plugged on, no chance with winner
with leader, led after 2nd until 5th, pressed leader, switched left and led again 2 out, ridden clear between last 2, driven and stayed on strongly
chased clear leading pair until before 3rd, struggling 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off
NonRunner
All five runners in this have made the running in the past so there should be no hanging around but Overtown Express is definitely better when held up for a late run, though went up 9lb for beating Rock On Rocky 10 lengths at Newbury and then fell in a match at Exeter. The hat-trick seeking Gino Trail is tough and consistent. He has his ground again and won’t go down without a fight but Pearls Legend may not be up to this level nowadays. SPEREDEK rattled up a three-timer over fences in the early part of year. His two runs this season have been over hurdles but he beat a subsequent winner 15 lengths at Exeter before a fine second off this mark at Ascot and should take all the beating.
Overtown Express (IRE) 8-15fav (11-7) Jumped stickily early, hit 1st, joined but travelling ok when fell 4 out, at Exeter 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Gino Trail (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Made all, not fluent 4 out, hard pressed before 2 out, stayed on well, in command flat, game effort, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Bun Doran (10-6) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Speredek (FR) 10-3 (11-11) Led, hit 3rd, headed approaching last, outpaced run-in, kept on well for 2nd, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Verdana Blue (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Pearls Legend 10-1 (10-0) Tracked winner until 7th, hit next, mistake 9th, lost place before next, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Rock On Rocky 10-1 (10-5) Led in start and well away, prominent, 2nd approaching 5th, led 7th, dived at 9th, joined 2 out, narrowly headed before last, led again run-in, soon ridden, headed post, 2nd of 11, shd behind Mr Medic (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Dec.