mid-division, headway to track leaders 5th, weakened from 2 out
always towards rear, weakened from 3 out
towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, in 4th and beat before last
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 4th, ridden before last, kept on and held towards finish
in rear, headway before 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace run-in
made all, pushed along before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, driven out
chased winner until 4th, lost place 6th, tailed off 3 out
always towards rear, in 6th and beaten well, fell 2 out
PORT MELON will never get a better chance to shed his maiden tag. Placed in a couple of Grade 2 contests at Cheltenham before the turn of the year, he was a little disappointing when beaten by Our Kaempfer at Kempton last month but may have just needed that run and this is a further drop in grade. Stablemate More Buck'S looks an embryo chaser but Bilbrook Blaze, second over 2m1f here last time, is worth another try over this longer trip and possibly has a bit more scope than the frustrating Go Odee Go and the one-paced Golan Dancer.
Bilbrook Blaze 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge from 2 out, about 1 length down when short of room final 75 yards, unable to challenge, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Kingfisher Creek (11-10) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Captain Probus (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Behind, soon mid-division in 5th, mistake and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Earthmoves (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Golan Dancer (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) In touch, headway when not fluent 9th, ridden to chase winner soon after 3 out, jumped left last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Blue Bear (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Go Odee Go (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden when blundered 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Apterix (10-7) at Fakenham 2m cond mdn hdle (4) gd in Mar.
Low Key (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Always behind, tailed off, 9th of 14, 47l behind Scoop The Pot (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Port Melon (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led and dived at 3 out, went left and headed last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Our Kaempfer (11-8) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Bel Esprit (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 9, 45l behind Double Silver (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Fashion Icon (FR) Arvico filly out of Royale Sulawesie.
More Buck's (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Last trio, pushed along and struggling in 6th before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before2 out, in a race won by War Sound (10-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
