raced keenly soon held up in in rear, closer 13th, headway chasing leaders approaching next, slightly hampered 15th, 3rd 3 out, 2nd between last 2, soon ridden and one pace
chased leaders, mistake 10th, went 3rd 16th, pushed along after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened next, remote 6th when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
held up early, headway chasing leaders 8th, lost 3rd 3 out, soon outpaced, plugged on into 4th run-in
never going and ran in snatches in rear, reminders and struggling 10th, tailed off 12th, pulled up soon after
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division on inside when blundered and pecked badly 12th, reminders and not recover, struggling when hit 17th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, last pair when hit 11th, tailed off
held up and behind, headway chasing leaders 10th, fell 15th
chased leaders on inside, outpaced and lost 3rd 16th, hit 18th, rallied after 2 out, went 3rd at the last, kept on
pressed leader, hit 3rd, led 7th until 9th, led again 15th, clear 2 out, stayed on strongly
led until 7th, pressed leader, led again 9th until 15th, chased winner and every chance 3 out, lost 2nd between last 2, weakened last
Vino Griego won off a 10lb higher mark over track and trip in 2015 and has been hinting at a revival lately. So has the former Grade 3 winner Aubusson but only a lack of condition prevented STEP BACK from making a winning start over fences at Chepstow and, if this doesn’t come too soon, Mark Bradstock’s novice looks the one to beat. Lithic was just beaten over 2m4f here in December but the form hasn’t worked out and he tries a new trip – his stable is also in the doldrums at present. Muckle Roe’s absence since winning by 27 lengths at Warwick last May has to be a concern.
Aubusson (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 11th, ridden in 4th before 4 out, plugged on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Actinpieces (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Bally Longford (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) In rear, reminders after 4th, lost touch 7th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Potters Legend 10-1 (10-5) Behind, struggling when hit 4 out, never near leaders, 6th of 14, 34 1/2l behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Mosspark (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) In rear, jumped slow 7th, pushed along before 9th, struggling before 16th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Aloomomo (FR) 4-1 (10-7) Close up, ridden and outpaced 15th, pulled up 2 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Muckle Roe (IRE) 11-4 (11-11) Tracked leaders, dropped off front pair before 4th, closed after 10th, 2nd 14th, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in May beating Rocknrollrambo (11-2) by 27l, 5 ran.
Lithic (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Close up, slow 9th and dropped to rear, headway omitted pond fence (3 out), effort last, pressed winner flat, just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Touch Kick (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Step Back (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Jumped right, made most form 1st until last, no impression flat, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Thomas Patrick (10-12) at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Feb.
Tanit River (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders before 12th, 3rd travelling well after 17th, ridden before 3 out, lost 3rd and weakened soon after 3 out, 5th of 9, 27 1/4l behind Daklondike (11-10) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Vino Griego (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, left in 2nd place 1st, lost 2nd 17th, hit 18th and 4 out, led 3 out, headed between last 2, weakened last, 6th of 12, 12 1/4l behind Ballydine (10-11) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
