held up behind, in touch, headway on outside 8th, ridden after 3 out, went 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
took keen hold, tracked leader to 5th, in touch, outpaced 4 out, behind when mistake next, went modest 4th after last
led, hit 4th, not fluent 7th, fell 9th
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, ridden after next, weakened 2 out, lost modest 4th after last
in touch, tracked leader 5th, left in lead 9th, ridden clear after 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably
held up, in touch, effort to chase winner before 3 out, soon ridden, one pace when lost 2nd next, no impression after
refused to race
Pret A Thou ended a barren spell when winning for the first time since 2013 at Leicester recently. He's upped 5lb but the veteran makes more appeal than Fakenham winner Marky Bob, who is raised in class for this. Blades Lad has won on the Flat here since scoring over fences at Musselburgh in November though this softer ground may be a problem for him and BUCK MULLIGAN (NAP) is preferred. He showed signs of coming good again when second at Ludlow but was unlucky at Doncaster last time when unseating after being hampered and gets another chance in this.
Buck Mulligan 7-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 8 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Pret A Thou (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Often wide, took keen hold, prominent, slightly outpaced after 4 out, rallied 2 out, led before last, ridden clear flat, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Gold Ingot (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Netherby 14-1 (11-3) Behind, mistakes 4th and 10th, pulled up 12th, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Blades Lad 5-1 (9-0) Led after 1f, made rest, ridden 2f out, driven out gamely, won at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (5) pol in Feb beating L'inganno Felice (9-3) by nk, 7 ran.
Santa's Secret (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, led until 1st, chased leader until pecked slightly 8th, went 2nd again 12th until after 4 out, blundered badly when weakening 3 out, pulled up before next, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Trapper Peak (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, closed 7th, 3rd and beaten from 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Albatros De Guye (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Marky Bob (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Led, headed narrowly 4 out, led again soon after 2 out, pressed last, stayed on gamely flat, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Youm Jamil (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
