held up, unseated rider 1st
took keen hold, in touch, headway chasing leaders before 3rd, chased clear leader on long run to 2 out until before the last, weakened last
chased leaders, lost place before 3rd, pushed along and struggling in 6th after 3 out, ridden on outside and outpaced before next, stayed on before last, went 2nd run-in, one pace towards finish
behind from 2nd, never on terms after, no chance when blundered 2 out, went modest 5th post
chased leaders on inside, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd before last, every chance when hampered run-in, 3rd and one pace after
chased leader, led after 2nd until 4th, chased leader until well before 2 out, outpaced between last 2, stayed on to chase leading pair last, no extra in 4th run-in
chased leaders, 2nd after 2nd, led 4th, slightly hampered by loose horse going to 3 out, went left 3 out, clear when slowed into 2 out, went left again last, ridden and hung left run-in, soon headed and weakened
chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, effort on inside last, quickened to lead run-in, won going away
led until after 2nd, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out
Jody Sole rode the winner of this last year and can repeat the trick on board SMART CATCH. The pick of Tony Carroll's two runners, he hasn't much more to do than when winning over a longer trip at Doncaster last week and will be staying on up the hill. That could be said of a few of these, however, as Cash Injection and Cafe Au Lait have also been racing over further. Benefique Royale only found one too good over course and distance last time, when Goldie Horn finished fourth, but is 5lb higher.
Red Seventy 3-1 (11-3) Led, ridden and headed on long run between last 2, soon lost place, 4th and beaten when fell last, in a race won by Hawdyerwheesht (11-7) at Stratford 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Benefique Royale 12-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 4th, headway after 3 out, challenged from next, led flat, headed inside final 100 yards, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Right Step (10-5) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Cash Injection 11-4fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 8th, not fluent and one pace 3 out, no extra from next, 5th of 8, 26l behind Always Bold (10-5) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Cafe Au Lait (GER) 15-8fav (10-13) Raced wide, chased leader 3rd, ridden to lead 2 out, headed bend approaching last, kept on one pace, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Azabitmour (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Experimentalist 25-1 (10-1) In touch, lost place 4out, soon behind and pulled up, in a race won by Alternatif (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Goldie Horn 16-1 (10-2) Prominent, not fluent 3 out, not much room briefly on bend soon after, not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 11, 4l behind Right Step (10-5) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Smart Catch (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear and keen, headway before 3 out, led before last, soon clear, ran on strongly, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb beating Poker School (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
Kastani Beach (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Soon pushed along in rear, kept on run-in, never going pace to get involved, 6th of 14, 23l behind Revaader (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Vertueux (FR) 17-2 (10-4) Jumped big and rider lost iron briefly 1st, led narrowly, tended to jump left, pushed along after 4th, narrow advantage when fell 7th, in a race won by Wicklewood (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp 0-100 (5) sft in Dec, 8 ran.