held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 10th, weakened next
jumped right, prominent, led 9th until next, weakened 2 out
led until 8th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, jumped left and hampered next
held up, headway when not fluent 3 out, went 2nd next, challenged last, rider soon lost whip, stayed on to lead near finish
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, ridden after 10th, weakening when baulked 3 out
prominent, led 8th until 9th, led 10th, jumped left 3 out, driven flat, headed near finish
Friendly Royal has won two of his three starts over fences, his latest victory coming here over a longer trip. An 11lb rise in the weights is a concern, however, against better opposition. Warren Greatrex has wasted no time putting APRIL DUSK (NAP) over the larger obstacles after he got off the mark over hurdles at the third time of asking. He's already won a point-to-point so could be a natural and looks better treated than his rivals. Confidence in Abracadabra Sivola last time at Newbury proved misplaced and he's very one-paced while Milan Bound is a thorough stayer who may find this too short. Anteros is an interesting debutant, however, as is Lewis.
Anteros (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Took keen hold in rear, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge approaching last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Rock Of Leon (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Milan Bound (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Abracadabra Sivola (FR) 9-2fav (11-0) Mistakes, led until approaching 3rd, prominent, led again 9th until next, blundered 13th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 16, 27 1/2l behind Aloomomo (11-1) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Grove Silver (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Led until after 5 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Spookydooky (11-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
April Dusk (IRE) 2-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3 out, clear last, kept on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Nov beating Rushvale (11-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
Lewis 10-1 (10-4) Behind, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), tracked leaders next, went 2nd approaching, ridden and stayed on to press winner flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Oscar Sunset (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Friendly Royal (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Chasing leaders when jumped left and bumped 2nd, not fluent 5th, went 2nd before 10th, led 4 out, clear when mistake 2 out, went left and awkward last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Ultimatum Du Roy (11-12) by 13l, 7 ran.
