tracked winner, challenged and not fluent 3 out, led after last, soon hard ridden, headed final 75 yards, no extra
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along 7th, struggling from 8th, soon detached and tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
ALVARADO was already beaten when refusing at Newbury on his comeback in January. He'd shown promise over fences before that, however, with a hat-trick of victories and can take care of today's rivals if back to his best. Ringa Bay won one of these events over C&D last month and has solid claims while Double Mead scored at Ludlow the last time he raced under Rules and has won a couple of point-to-points since. Darkness is not the force of old and Hippodrome doesn't look good enough.
Alvarado (IRE) 4-1 (12-6) Mid-division, blundered 6th, jumped right 9th, headway and in touch on outside after 12th, jumped right again next, weakened 4 out, soon tailed off and refused, in a race won by Chapoturgeon (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hts chs (6) gs in Jan, 13 ran.
Ringa Bay (12-5) won at Kimble 3m ptp, 1 ran.
Hippodrome (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) (cp) 5th & no ch 15, 4th of 10, 13l behind My Way de Solzen (12-7) at Garthorpe 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Double Mead 1-5 (11-0) Made all; unchall, won at Bitterley 3m ptp gd beating Virginia Preuil (11-7) by 8l, 2 ran.
Darkness 6-1 (12-0) Chsd ldrs til outpcd 15, 4th of 9, 14l behind Offshore Account (12-0) at Barbury Racecourse 3m ptp gd in Feb.