mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on well towards finish
towards rear, reminders 5th, pulled up before 7th
made most to 6th, soon driven, behind
close up on inside, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
reminders 2nd, always behind, tailed when pulled up after 6th
held up, headway into mid-division 6th, 5th when pulled up lame after 3 out
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden, no impression when hit next
in touch, reminders, lost place 6th, soon behind
raced wide, held up, always behind
behind, headway 3 out, ridden, kept on from next, never nearer
chased leaders, lost place, behind 5th, headway 3 out, ridden, kept on well from next
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased winner next, 5 lengths 3rd, beaten when fell last
with leader, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
in touch, led 6th, clear 2 out, ridden last, held on towards finish
behind, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
Nonrunner
A poor seller here but something has to win and the principals look to be Seafire Lad, Frankincense and Big Wheel with the narrow nomination going to Seafire Lad. The selection was a fair second behind Diamond Vein in similar grade last time out, form that looks rock solid in the context of this race and under similar conditions here he will be hard to beat. Frankincense rates the main danger on his latest second behind Minster Abbi, form that has since been franked and he should be closely watched in the market. Big Wheel is dropping in grade but the suspicion is he may just need the run after a 429 day abscence. Of the remainder, Bluecoat is from a shrewd in-form yard and is another dropping in grade and he will appreciate this faster ground but in a race where stakes should be kept to a minimum for the winner we return to Seafire Lad.
Sono 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division ridden and chased winner approaching 4 out lost place 2 out kept on again flat, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Some Touch (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Turftanzer (GER) 12-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden full out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Diamond Vein (10-8) at Wetherby 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Prairie Law (GER) 40-1 (11-7) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Shady Anne (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd, 14 ran.
Big Wheel 12-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, lost place halfway, 15th of 16, 34l behind Welcome To Unos (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Nov '05.
Nero West (FR) 66-1 (11-1) Mid-division, struggling when hampered 4 out, 15th of 16, well behind Pee Jay's Dream (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Alfano (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 20, 24l behind Em's Royalty (11-7) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Jan.
Bluecoat (USA) 13-2 (10-11) Chased leader until outpaced after 4th, 5th of 9, 17l behind Miss Pross (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Silver Chancelor (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Behind, hit 7th, ridden and weakened 13th, behind when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Nevada Red (10-4) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Seafire Lad (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Diamond Vein (10-8) at Wetherby 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
Emperor's Monarch 13-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, outpaced 3 out, kept on from next, 6th of 12, 6l behind Southern Bazaar (10-1) at Catterick 2m 3f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Crackleando 9-2jt-fav (11-10) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 8th, 7th of 11, 36l behind Dalawan (11-4) at Ayr 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Verstone (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by The Last Viking (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Danteco 33-1 (9-11) Chased leader to 6th, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kerry's Blade (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sept, 9 ran.
Frankincense (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) With leader, led 4th, hit next, headed, outpaced after 3 out, kept on to chase winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Minster Abbi (10-7) at Catterick 2m 3f ldy hcp hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Jupsala (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Held up, headway after 7th, reminders and weakened from 5 out, 4th of 6, well behind Sports Express (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m nov chs (4) gd in Jan.
Real Chief (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, ridden and weakened 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Princess Stephanie (10-6) at Fakenham 2m sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd, 11 ran.