off the pace in last pair, struggling 10th, tailed off and pulled up before last
led, headed before 3 out, lost 2nd 3 out, soon outpaced and no chance with leading duo
held up off the pace in 4th place, closer in 3rd place before 3rd where not fluent, blundered 8th, went 2nd 3 out, 1 length down and trying to close when hit last, no extra run-in
tracked leading pair until before 3rd, chased leaders in 4th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before last
bit keen, tracked leader, led before 3 out, 1 length ahead last, soon went further clear, stayed on well
always last, jumped slowly 3rd, lost touch 6th, tailed off when went left 9th and next, went badly left again 2 out, pulled up soon after
A very competitive novices’ handicap, despite the small field. Dan Skelton has the top two in the weights and Longhouse Sale rattled up a hat-trick in the autumn before coming unstuck when odds-on for a Listed race in October. He hasn’t been seen since, however, and Harry Skelton prefers recent Huntingdon winner Antunes. DOSTAL PHIL was impressive when beating a subsequent winner and Grey Diamond at Newbury in January but he lost confidence after almost being brought down by the fall of Antunes at the first here next time. He will need to reverse that form with Beaufort West but still has time on his side. Esprit De Somoza faces a stiff task on the form he’s shown so far.
Longhouse Sale (IRE) 5-6fav (11-2) Held up, dropped to last but close up 3rd, mistake 11th, ridden turning for home, lost ground 5 out, tailed off from 4 out, last of 3, dist behind Grand Sancy (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Antunes 9-4 (11-8) Jumped well, led after 1st, made rest, good jump and went clear 4th, in no danger after, unchallenged, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Ar Mest (10-11) by 18l, 4 ran.
Dostal Phil (FR) 7-4 (11-8) Held up, badly hampered and left in 3rd place 1st, pushed along and no extra before 2 out, 3rd of 5, 13 1/2l behind High Up In The Air (10-4) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Beaufort West (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Led tracking winner 1st, pushed along between last 2, closer at the last, hung left run-in, soon no extra, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind High Up In The Air (10-4) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Grey Diamond (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, led after 2nd until 9th, dropped to 3rd next, rallied after 3 out, went 2nd at the last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Belargus (11-0) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Esprit De Somoza (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Held up in last pair, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went never nearer 3rd close home, never going pace to challenge, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Ecco (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (4) pol in Feb.
