raced keenly, soon steadied into 4th, jumped slowly and lost place 9th, behind and struggling 11th, outpaced in rear 4 out, plugged on
raced wide tracking leaders, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with leading duo
led and mostly jumped well, over 1 length ahead when awkward last, strongly pressed run-in, headed and no extra towards finish
awkward 1st, mistakes in rear, not fluent 6th, awkward 12th, bad mistake next, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up tracking leaders, headway into 3rd 9th, hit 12th and stumbled, pushed along in 4th before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, jumped slowly 8th, ridden between last two, over 1 length down last, strong challenge wide of leader run-in, led towards finish
NonRunner
Deyrann de Carjac hasn’t shown much improvement for a tumble down the weights and is probably best watched again. Foxboro is consistent but now 0-9 over fences and Nickolson has also proved frustrating to follow and there is no guarantee a step up in trip will suit. MAHLER’S PROMISE can be forgiven his run on much softer ground at Huntingdon last time as he’d shown up well twice here earlier and has been dropped a couple of pounds since. The penalised Nocte Volatus has won three times this season but has also failed to complete three times and these stiff fences will be a big test for his technique.
Nickolson (FR) Evensfav (11-0) Led, slow and headed 3rd, pressed leader until ridden 4 out, kept on one pace and went 2nd run in, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Nelson River (11-0) at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Feb.
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Held up, mistake 1st, fell 3rd, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Nocte Volatus 10-3 (11-6) Prominent, led 3rd, shaken up flat, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Muckamore (11-9) by 6 1/2l, 6 ran.
Maypole Class (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along when making a mistake 4 out, soon towards rear, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Mahler's Promise (IRE) 11-4 (11-1) Made most until before 2 out, soon 3rd and held, no extra flat, 3rd of 4, 18 1/2l behind Our Power (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Foxboro (GER) 13-2 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders 12th, 3rd and one pace before the last, stayed on into 2nd close home, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Flegmatik (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Defi Sacre (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Mid-division, closer tracking leaders at 6th, hit 15th, pushed along after 4 out, no extra in 5th after next, 5th of 10, 27 1/2l behind Cat Tiger (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
