tracked leader, travelled strongly to lead after 2 out, drew clear before last, held on flat
midfield, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, lost touch 5th and driven, virtually tailed off 3 out, stayed on strongly from 2 out, took 3rd close home
midfield, blundered 4th, ridden after 2 out, progress to chase clear leader before last, stayed on strongly flat but could not reach winner
prominent, awkward 3 out and ridden, weakened before last
led, awkward 4th, ridden after 2 out, headed before last, soon weakened
always towards rear
Castel Gandolfo is having a first run since December but has proved a consistent sort on the whole and it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line here. OSPREY CALL (NAP) arguably won a more competitive affair at Warwick last month, however, even though it was only a Class 4. He’d been a bit unlucky previously and is still on a decent mark. Restandbethankful lost his action when pulled up at Musselburgh but has won three times over hurdles and still has time on his side so looks the pick of the remainder.
Oakley (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, gradually faded, 9th of 10, dist behind Dorking Boy (10-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Restandbethankful 11-4 (11-8) Tracked leaders until pushed along 3 out, faltered and pulled up next, at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Feb.
Shantou Express (IRE) 40-1 (11-6) Towards rear, prominent 4 out, ridden before omitted 3 out, weakened omitted 2 out, last of 14, dist behind Cobblers Dream (10-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Osprey Call (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up, closed to chase leaders 3rd, went 2nd 2 out, driven flat, stayed on, led towards finish, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb beating Dibble Decker (11-6) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Castel Gandolfo (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Off the pace towards rear, jumped slowly and struggling 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 25 3/4l behind Lively Citizen (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Petit Palais 22-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, hit 1st, lost place before 4th, stumbled badly next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Sage Advice (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, struggling over 2f out, soon well beaten, 7th of 8, 17 3/4l behind Almufeed (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
