led, pushed along 3 out, mistake and weakened from 2 out
close up, ridden before 2 out, weakened and pulled up before last
in rear, asked for effort 2 out, headway before last, held every chance until short of room close home, no extra final 100yds (finished 2nd, placed 1st)
mid-division, struggling 4 out, pulled up
towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, asked for effort 2 out, no extra thereafter
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
close up, pushed along 4 out, detached soon after, pulled up
mid-division, headway under pressure 2 out, led before last, kept on run in (finished 1st, placed 2nd)
towards rear, headway going well before 2 out, briefly led before last, no extra run in
towards rear, pushed along 3 out, no impression before last
in rear, asked for effort 4 out, soon struggling and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, not fluent third, ridden 4 out, pulled up
The veteran Optimistic Bias is better over fences but is 14lb lower over timber and has to be respected. Hillview was in very good form in the autumn, scoring at Bangor and just failing to complete a double there in October. He has an absence to overcome which may just hand the initiative to TRAIN HILL (NAP). Charlie Longsdon's charge, a bumper winner in Ireland, is best on good ground and has been staying on strongly over shorter. Miss M completed a double here in 2020 though that was over 2m and she hasn't won subsequently.
Gibberwell (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) In rear of midfield, pushed along briefly after 1st, dropped to rear 5th where not fluent, lost touch when awkward 6th, ridden and tailed off before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Optimistic Bias (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 1st, hit 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, pressed 2 out, soon ridden and headed, not fluent last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 10, 10 1/2l behind Manothepeople (11-9) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Hillview (IRE) 5-2fav (10-9) Held up in rear, closed 4 out, not much room and lost place before next, switched right and closed final bend, challenged 2 out, led and mistake last, soon headed, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Not At Present (12-1) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Uisce Ur (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Led, slow and headed 2nd, led before next, headed after 5th, slow 7th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 15, 28 1/4l behind Trac (10-6) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Train Hill (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway after 7th, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Uno Mas (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Cloudy Wednesday (IRE) 80-1 (12-2) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and no impression when mistake 2 out, soon no extra, 6th of 11, 15 3/4l behind Ask D'Man (12-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan.
Bunny Boru 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division on outer, headway under 4 out, pushed along well over 2 out and soon outpaced, 6th of 14, 23l behind Waikiki Waves (11-10) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Bendy Bow 14-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, slow and lost place 4th, headway before 8th, weakened 2 out, 12th of 15, 32 1/2l behind Coronado Joe (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Feb.
The Questioner (IRE) 100-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, behind from next, tailed off, 13th of 15, dist behind Lord Of Cheshire (11-6) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Miss M (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders 3 out, ridden before next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 13, 14l behind Wetanwindy (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
Ratoute Yutty 25-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, 6th of 10, 36l behind Good News (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Fitz The Brief (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Behind, not fluent 2nd, some headway on outside 11th, lost place 13th, well beaten before 4 out, soon pulled up, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Jump Over The Moon (IRE) 250-1 (11-6) Mid-division early, dropped to rear and mistake 4th, tailed off next, pulled up soon after, at Taunton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
