not fluent 2nd, headway 5 out, ridden 4 out, no extra from 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 6 out, pushed along 3 out, one paced thereafter
led, pushed along 4 out, kept on same pace from last, headed towards finish
mid-division, ridden 7 out, eased and pulled up before 6 out
in rear, smooth headway before 3 out, asked for effort 3 out, two lengths down last, kept on run-in, led close home
close up, pulled up halfway
Percussion, beaten two lengths over 2m4f here last summer on good ground, looked at home in heavy conditions when scoring over 3m2f at Fontwell on Boxing Day. Head On appears to have a mind of his own as he has won three of his last five but pulled up in the other two. He would win this on his victory at Warwick but doesn't look one to trust. Don't Ask won over 2m4f here last May but has never been this trip while Peur De Rien was well behind when falling at Warwick in January. STEEL WAVE is now in the veteran stage but the seven times winner has been in fine form off his lowly mark, failing by only a nose at Doncaster last month before an even better run in a Class 3 handicap back there, so looks the one to beat.
Percussion 11-1 (11-12) Keen in touch, ridden 5 out, weakened next, 8th of 10, dist behind No Cruise Yet (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Head On (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) Mid division, dropped towards rear after blunder at 3rd, struggling and pulled up after 5 out, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Don't Ask (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, slow and lost place 3rd, not fluent 9th, headway 11th, outpaced 13th, well beaten from 4 out, 6th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Fantastic Lady (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Peur De Rien (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 9th, pushed along 12th, well beaten from 14th, fell, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Steel Wave (IRE) 9-4fav (10-0) In rear, headway to press leaders 4 out, could not go pace of leader 2 out, stayed on well from last, grabbed 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 4 1/4l behind First Figaro (10-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Coole Lion (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Led or disputed, mistake and headed 4 out, mistake and weakened next, pulled up after, at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) gd in Feb.
