made most, ridden 3 lengths clear 2 out, not fluent next, stayed on
tracked leaders, chased winner 4 out, ridden 3 out, one pace and lost 2nd final strides
raced wide close up, tracked winner 14th until 3 out, weakened flat
tracked winner until pushed along 14th, ridden 4 out, weakened next
in touch, dropped to rear 9th, behind 13th, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, lost place 9th, weakened 4 out
in rear, not fluent 4th, in touch 9th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, ran on to go 2nd final strides
tracked leaders, pushed along 13th, outpaced 4 out, rallied flat
It was good ground when Hard To Forget won at Doncaster in January but he’ll find this tougher raised 5lb. But LEN BRENNAN escapes a penalty for winning a conditionals’ chase at Plumpton on his debut for a new yard and first start in cheekpieces. The headgear remains in place and he can go in again. Sam Barton finished second of four runners at Leicester having slid down the weights while Ballyrath won at Wetherby before failing to complete and Ecossais was pulled-up last time having won this race off today’s mark last year.
Via Dolorosa (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Chased winner until after 11th, went 2nd 13th until mistake 15th, losing place when blundered 3 out, 6th of 9, 18 1/4l behind Bobhopeornohope (11-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Sam Barton 85-40jfav (11-11) Not always fluent, chased leader until 2nd, in touch, outpaced after 4 out, mistake 4 out, rallied into 2nd before last, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Muckamore (11-13) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Hard To Forget (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Held up behind leaders, not fluent 6th, not much room before 4 out, soon switched right and closed, bumped by loose horse 3 out, led next, clear last, heavily eased towards finish, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Speak Of The Devil (11-0) by 6 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Led, pecked and headed 4 out, still close up 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 12 3/4l behind Patroclus (11-7) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Ballyrath (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, mistake 13th, ridden 16th, disputing 7th 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Brian Boranha (IRE) 18-1 (10-6) In touch, ridden and struggling from15th, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Omar Maretti (11-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Ecossais (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost ground 14th, soon struggling and pulled up, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m 6f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Len Brennan (IRE) 6-4fav (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before the last, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Admiral Barratry (12-3) by 7 1/2l, 6 ran.
