led until after 7th, weakened after 4 out, well behind before 2 out
prominent, led after 7th, mistake and headed out, continued to press winner, stayed on, held towards finish
chased leaders, slow 4th, not fluent 6th, outpaced after 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
soon chasing leaders on inside, ridden and outpaced 9th, well beaten before 3 out
not jump well, chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, well held by front pair before next
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway before 8th, 2nd before 4 out, led 3 out, hard pressed, stayed on well, holding 2nd towards finish
held up towards rear on outside, slow 2nd, closed from 7th, not fluent 8th, outpaced 3 out, well held by front pair before next
NonRunner
Flemcara was only beaten a neck off this mark at Newbury in November but ERICK LE ROUGE (NAP) was having a first run over hurdles in more than three years when chasing home the in-form Annsam at the same track earlier this month and is racing off a lower mark than over fences. Ratfacemcdougall is 2lb lower than when landing this 12 months ago so can’t be ignored and Trincomalee probably needed his run at Wincanton in February. Picanha won his maiden here in December and was second last time at Ludlow with Arizona Cardinal, also a previous winner here and successful last time at Uttoxeter, another with strong claims.
Flemcara (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division on inside, hit 4th, weakened before 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Trincomalee 12-1 (11-12) Rear mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, well held before 2 out, 5th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Sizable Sam (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 28-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3 out and soon outpaced, closed steadily from over 2 out, ran on well after last and took 2nd closing stages, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Annsam (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Ratfacemcdougall (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Led, not fluent 5th, ridden before 3 out where blundered and headed, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 6, 34l behind Sultans Pride (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Burrows Edge (FR) 18-1 (12-2) Raced wide chasing leaders, lost place slightly at 5th, reminders after 8th, trying to rally when mistake 4 out, went remote 3rd at the last, 3rd of 6, 22l behind Bourbali (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Picanha 10-11fav (11-12) Led, not fluent 3 out, joined when bad mistake last, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Come On Gruff (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Versatility 40-1 (11-4) Midfield, ridden and weakened before 4 out, 8th of 11, dist behind Dublin Four (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Chosen Path (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) In rear, mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Arizona Cardinal 5-6fav (11-12) Made all, pushed along approaching last, unchallenged, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f (4) gd in Mar beating Prince Des Fichaux (11-5) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
