with leader, led 7th, made most after, clear 2 out, reduced lead last, strongly pressed run-in, found extra and stayed on to assert close home
tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, rallied under pressure into 2 lengths 2nd at the last, driven and every chance run-in, no extra towards finish
pecked 1st, always last, outpaced 7th, tailed off
made most until 7th, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, hit 10th, weakened 3 out, went modest 3rd post
tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, challenged and upsides when hit 13th, 2 lengths down when mistake 2 out, lost 2nd approaching the last, no extra run-in, lost 3rd post
Ahead of Lalor’s assault on the Arkle, THE KINGS WRIT can give Kayley Woollacott’s stable a morale-boosting victory. Both of his victories so far have come at Exeter but he wasn’t disgraced in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham last time and appears much improved. Duke Des Champs is dropped in trip in a bid to secure a first win over fences and is slipping down the weights. He makes more appeal than Lord Bryan and Tara Bridge, who haven’t been in the best of form. Pressurize goes well fresh and won off a higher mark on his reappearance last season, though is now a teenager.
Duke Des Champs (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, mistake 12th, went 2nd 13th until mistake 2 out, weakened and lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 11, 22l behind Achille (10-11) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
The Kings Writ (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Prominent, ridden and outpaced by leaders before 2 out, stayed on same pace after, 4th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Pressurize (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Mid-division on outside, lost place when jumped left 5th, niggled along next, in touch when blundered 11th, outpaced when not fluent and jumped left 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 37l behind Ballycross (11-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leader after 2nd, not fluent 6th, led 13th, headed 3 out, kept on to press for 3rd from last, 4th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Mister Malarky (11-10) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Tara Bridge 20-1 (11-5) Raced wide, chased leaders, lost place 4th, behind and no chance after, tailed off 4 out, 7th of 8, 31 1/4l behind Not Another Muddle (11-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
