tracked leaders on outside, challenged 6th, led 3 out, jumped right 2 out, driven flat, all out
mid-division on inside, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, closed 3rd, ridden and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last
with leader, led 7th, not fluent and headed 3 out, stayed on, closing on winner towards finish
held up in rear, headway on outside 7th, went 3rd from 3 out, mistake last, stayed on
held up towards rear, weakened before jumped left and mistake 3 out
mid-division on outside, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, headway after 7th, not fluent 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, weakened after 7th
led, not fluent 1st, headed 7th, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway and not fluent 3 out, 4th from next, edged left approaching last, stayed on, never nearer
It’s almost six years since Relentless Dreamer last ran over hurdles but Thibault has won three times since joining Adam West. MINT CONDITION has also had a good season and, though 11lb higher than when winning at Wetherby over Christmas, has his sights lowered and shouldn’t be far away. Winningseverything and Nickolson have been very lightly raced but the former may just need this. Wilde About Oscar won a Listed race at Exeter last month and has also won around here. However, he could struggle to get home over this trip on soft ground under a big weight. Gustavian has never finished out of the first two so can’t be ignored and looks better treated than Taunton winner Rockadenn. Illegal Model has run well here before but seems best over 3m.
Wilde About Oscar (IRE) 16-5 (11-3) Jumped left, tracked leader, led before 2nd, clear when stumbled on landing last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f lst (1) hvy in Feb beating The Glancing Queen (10-10) by 7 1/2l, 11 ran.
Rockadenn (FR) 17-2 (10-11) Pulled hard, held up, pulled way through to track clear leader 2nd, dropped to 3rd before hit 4 out, 2nd again before next, 2 lengths down 2 out, strong challenge run-in, led last strides, won at Taunton 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating Pic D'Orhy (11-12) by hd, 8 ran.
Mint Condition 2-1fav (10-12) Midfield, pushed after 4 out and outpaced, ridden before 3 out where slow and hampered slightly, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 26l behind Alaphilippe (10-12) at Haydock 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Gustavian (IRE) 13-8fav (11-8) Held up in rear, headway 7th, went 2nd 3 out, led next, clear flat, stayed on well, readily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Global Fame (11-7) by 5l, 5 ran.
Winningseverything (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Midfield, took closer order 4 out, blundered 3 out and lost ground, ridden and gaining ground when fell 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (4) sft in Oct.
Nickolson (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Held up, steady headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, faded over 1f out, 8th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Proschema (11-10) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Midfield, blundered 5th, took closer order 9th, not fluent 12th, chased leader under pressure 4 out, driven and kept on after last, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Shoal Bay (11-2) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Illegal Model (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Prominent, led before 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, beaten when not fluent last, 4th of 12, 5 3/4l behind Storm Arising (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Thibault 80-1 (10-0) Held up in mid-division, steady headway chasing leaders went 2nd 2 out, strong challenge run-in, no extra final 110 yards, 2nd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Shannon Bridge (10-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Dan McGrue (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, lost place 4 out, headway 3 out, 4th and well held before 2 out, very tired and lost 4th towards finish, 5th of 9, 36 3/4l behind And The New (11-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
