held up last and off the pace, went 4th and closed after 4th, went 3rd before 7th, outpaced and no chance with leading pair well before 2 out, no extra in 4th closing stages
chased leader until 4th, chased leading pair until approaching 7th, soon driven, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th, challenged 2 out, led between last, soon clear, readily
led at decent pace, blundered badly 6th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, soon no extra
raced in 4th and off the pace, dropped to last after 4th, went 4th again 7th, driven and not on terms approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure to modest 3rd closing stages
A progressive chaser in 2010, it's a shame to see Putney Bridge dropped to this level back over hurdles after a disappointing comeback at Sandown last month. RAILWAY RICO looks a safer option as he finished well clear of the opposition in a similar event at Stratford a week ago and is open to further improvement. Westlin' Winds should have his say given he was beaten less than a length when last tried in this grade, while Ockey De Neulliac won a couple of plating races over hurdles back in November and has scored over fences since. Dr Darcey looks up against it judged on his recent poor efforts.
Ockey De Neulliac (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Held up well in rear, not fluent 1st or 8th, went 4th 12th, never on terms, left 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 38l behind Arctic Ben (11-5) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Putney Bridge 7-1 (11-11) In touch, chased leader 4th, mistake and rider lost iron 7th, soon lost place, behind when jumped left from 12th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Gwanako (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
Westlin' Winds (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 13th of 16, 17l behind Secret Tune (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (6) std in Feb.
Railway Rico (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Made all, hit 5th, ridden clear before 2 out, easily, won at Stratford 2m 3f sll hdl (5) gd beating Mahfal (10-7) by 18l, 7 ran.
Dr Darcey 28-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 30l behind Dreambrook Lady (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
