in touch, headway chasing leaders 3rd, 2nd 5th until pushed along before 2 out, hit 3 out, 2nd again before the last where not fluent, led run-in, driven out
held up in last pair, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, no impression
keen in rear, headway chasing leaders 3rd, weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off
chased leader who went clear after 3rd, lost 2nd after next, weakened 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
keen, chased leaders, lost place 3rd, rallied in 3rd before 3 out, 2nd before 2 out and closed, lost 2nd before the last, weakened badly run-in
raced wide, chased leaders, 2nd after 4th until next, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out
led, went clear after 3rd, reduced lead 2 out, headed and no extra run-in
Drums Of War makes his handicap debut under a big weight and didn't appear to appreciate heavy going at Kelso last time. Donald McCain remains in good form and HANDY HOLLOW showed some potential at the backend of last year, which may be good enough in a very poor contest. Simply Business is 5lb out of the handicap though showed a bit more dash at Southwell last week but Strike West was beaten a long way in testing ground at Wetherby and Beau Sancy has hardly picked his feet up this season.
Drums Of War (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway before 2 out, in 4th place and no impression before last, 4th of 8, 20 1/4l behind Cool Mix (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Pronto Tonto (IRE) 250-1 (11-2) Always behind, never a factor, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Burrows Edge (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (3) sft in Feb.
Beau Sancy (FR) 150-1 (11-0) Always behind, 10th of 12, 33l behind Pistol (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Handy Hollow (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 5th, lost place when not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 24 3/4l behind Marmont (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Strike West (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind Skywards Reward (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Rapid Fritz (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Well behind, mistake 1st, jumped slowly next, tailed off 6th, pulled up before last, at Sedgefield 2m hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Simply Business (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Led, headed before 2 out, one pace, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Queen Of The Wind (11-9) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) sft in Mar.