took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 4th, led 3 out, clear before next, hung right between last 2, stayed on strongly
in touch, effort 3 out, pushed along and one pace before next, soon beaten
held up last, headway on outside appproaching 5th, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd on outside before 2 out, stayed on same pace from last
pressed leader, narrow lead after 2nd, mistake 5th, went sharply right and headed 3 out, weakened well before next
chased leading trio, went 3rd 4th until after 3 out, pushed along and one pace before 2 out
last pair, badly hampered on inside and rider lost iron briefly after 3 out, plugged on, not recover
took keen hold, led, overjumped and rider loose 1st, narrowly headed after next, hit 3rd, lost place next, rallied to 2nd again after 3 out until before next, stayed on same pace after
Erica Bridge rode the winner of this in 2010 but her mount this year, Homer Run, is racing from 6lb out of the handicap. Lucy Gardner has ridden a couple of winners lately and should go close again on board VERTUEUX, who has won on the all-weather since being pulled up over a longer trip at Huntingdon on Boxing Day and doesn't look badly treated in comparison to some of the others. The Pretender will like the ground but has been well beaten in all three starts over hurdles and Den Maschine and Dormouse have their fair share of weight. Well Green won on soft ground at Lingfield in January but was beaten when falling there last time.
Den Maschine 12-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division on inner, chased leaders before 2 out, soon chased winner, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 8, 15l behind Ascendant (10-4) at Hereford 2m 1f cnd/am sll hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Dormouse 15-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway to 4th after 3 out, under pressure and no impression next, 5th of 8, 24l behind Sircozy (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
The Pretender (FR) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leader from 1st, hampered by loose horse and led 3rd, headed 6th, ridden and beaten 2 out, well held when left 4th last, 4th of 13, 24l behind Valmari (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Alaghiraar (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up behind on outside, reminders 4th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Youngstown (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in May, 11 ran.
Vertueux (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, losing place when hit 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Elegant Olive (9-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Well Green (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Took keen hold and prominent, went 2nd after 2nd, led after 4th, stumbled 3 out, already headed and dropped to 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Dream Again Boys (11-1) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Homer Run (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Led, not fluent 3rd, headed 5th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Black Cache (11-6) at Exeter 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
