last pair, not fluent 10th, plugged on in modest 5th from 4 out, went poor 4th run-in, never involved
held up, headway chasing leaders 5th, challenging in 2nd when mistake 15th, driven and lost 2nd after 4 out, one pace and no impression in 3rd before next
held up, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
led until mistake and headed 11th, chased winner until mistake 14th, soon driven and weakened, blundered next
chased leaders, pushed along after 11th, weakened and struggling in 4th 4 out, lost poor 4th run-in
last pair, struggling in rear 13th, pulled up before next
chased leader, mistake 7th, led 11th, made rest, pushed along after 4 out, stayed on gamely from next
raced wide, chased leaders until mistake and lost place 6th, last and struggling before 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
took keen hold, soon held up, headway chasing leaders 9th, 3rd after 12th, mistake next, 2nd 14th until next, went 2nd again after 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, ridden before next, no impression between last two
Finish The Story stays extreme distances and could hardly have won any more easily at Southwell last month, though he's shot up the weights and is now on a career-high mark. SHY JOHN (NAP) looked the certain winner at Ludlow last month when travelling easily throughout but a mistake at the second last unsettled him and he couldn't get past Shuil Royale. He gets another chance to put matters right here and his rider's claim will aid his cause. Strawberry Hill is doing very well and must be on the short-list after a fine effort at Fontwell, where he pulled away from the last. Gunna Be A Devil hasn't won over fences and was a bit disappointing when strongly fancied at Wincanton but the veteran Pigeon Island has been performing at a much higher level and though he hasn't won for two years it would be no shock to see him back in the winner's enclosure.
Pigeon Island 4-1 (11-12) Held up rear in touch, pushed along after 13th, soon outpaced and struggling before 5 out, tailed off, last of 6, 46l behind Financial Climate (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Feb.
Finish The Story (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, 2nd 13th, led briefly before 4 out, every chance 4 out, lost 2nd before next, chased leading pair until approaching 2 out, kept on same pace in 4th, 4th of 13, 13l behind Catching On (11-11) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Shy John 9-1 (11-1) Held up, headway when not much room 14th, challenged going well when hit 2 out, ridden flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Shuil Royale (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
As De Fer (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leader, hit 10th, lost 2nd before 12th, struggling next, left poor 4th 3 out, 4th of 7, 45l behind Foxbridge (11-6) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Strawberry Hill (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Chased clear pair to 6th, in touch, driven 8th, soon lost place, reminders after 10th, not fluent next, rallied 3 out, soon ridden, went 2nd next, challenged last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb beating Sitting Back (9-12) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Midnight Charmer 25-1 (10-13) Held up in touch when fell 8th, in a race won by Achimota (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Gunna Be A Devil (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, pecked 1st, went prominent from 11th, every chance 4 out, no impression on winner from 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Kings Apollo (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Milosam (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 10th, ridden 13th, pulled up before 16th, in a race won by Carli King (11-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 14 ran.
Tea Caddy 16-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders, hit 5th, travelling well 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, hit last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Cresswell Breeze (11-10) at Taunton 3m (5) sft in Feb.
