took keen hold, held up, headway on outside 4 out, 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression towards finish
bumped 1st, 2nd before next, not fluent 6th, ridden and outpaced by front pair from 2 out, plugged on
led, not fluent 5th, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, jumped right and not fluent 1st, not fluent 4th, driven and weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, headway when mistake 3 out, 2nd next, led before mistake last, stayed on well
tracked leader until before 2nd, stayed handy, not fluent 4th or 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, headway before 4 out, weakened approaching next
Nonrunner
Having shaped with promise in a Class 3 event on his hurdles bow at Sandown, BARDD found only one too good in this grade at Chepstow in January. It will be a surprise if Nicky Henderson’s novice can’t go one better today with Ned Curtis taking off 3lb. On paper Robinesse, who won her bumper here in 2015, is the danger, though she has looked a little one-paced so far over timber. Indian Brave ran well on his reappearance at Doncaster but then disappointed at Newcastle in December when behind Big Brother George and hasn’t raced since, though his yard is in better form now. Rock And Roll King is unexposed but would need to improve on what he’s shown so far.
Bardd (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 2 out, ridden before last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Russian Service (11-5) at Chepstow 2m mdn (5) hvy in Jan.
Big Brother George (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until before 5th, lost place after 6th, well beaten from 4 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Over To Sam (11-5) at Exeter 2m 6f mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Coco Live (FR) 22-1 (11-0) Behind, pushed along and struggling after 6th, soon lost touch, mistake next, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out, at Southwell 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Coudefoudre (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Azzerti (11-7) at Sandown 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Indian Brave (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 8, 20 1/2l behind Kimberlite Candy (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 6f (4) sft in Dec.
Robert De Bruce (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 27 1/4l behind Golden Jeffrey (10-7) at Ayr 2m (6) hvy in Feb.
Rock And Roll King (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up in last pair, struggling 4 out, well beaten when left modest 4th last, 4th of 6, 20 1/2l behind Potters Story (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Robinesse (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, no impression on winner before next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Crystal Lad (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
