chased leaders, ridden briefly 9th, lost place 11th, closed soon after, outpaced from 12th, well beaten from 14th
led 1st, soon headed, prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden after 14th, challenged 2 out, led flat, stayed on dourly
led after 1st, often jumped well, joined 2 out, headed flat, held close home
held up, closed before 9th, ridden after 13th, outpaced by leaders next, disputing 6 lengths 3rd when fell 2 out
led until 1st, tracked leaders on outside, fell 3rd
led briefly after 1st, prominent, shaken up 6th, lost place after 11th, behind from next
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway after 11th, outpaced from next, disputing 6 lengths 3rd when left clear 3rd 2 out, no impression, eased flat
KNIGHT OFTHE REALM has had his problems this season but, taken literally, his second to Gardiners Hill at Hereford is the best form on offer so he gets a tentative vote. Winning pointer Celtic Park showed the expected improvement switched to fences at Uttoxeter and looks the danger, though Bassarabad can only improve on his third at Bangor and his stable remains in good form. Royals And Rebels is another with scope but was beaten a long way when second at Plumpton and is now tried in cheekpieces.
Royals And Rebels (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Tracked leading trio, dropped to 5th place at 6th, outpaced when pecked 11th, rallied into 3rd 13th, no chance with winner next, went poor 2nd last, 2nd of 5, 35l behind Minella On Line (11-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Bassarabad (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Well in rear and never travelling, reminders after 5th, lost touch 8th, stayed on into modest 3rd from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 11 1/2l behind Kilcullen Flem (10-6) at Bangor 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Bacchanel (FR) 7-2fav (10-8) Mistakes, mid-division, closed 12th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next, at Exeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Celtic Park 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway into modest 3rd 5 out, lost place 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure flat, snatched 2nd near finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Amberjam (11-10) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Knight Ofthe Realm 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and every chance from 3 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held near finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Gardiners Hill (12-6) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Phangio (USA) 10-1 (11-13) Always towards rear, ridden and struggling before 9th, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Gardiners Hill (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
How's Vienna (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Soon pressing winner, led briefly after 2nd, lost 2nd after 3 out, beaten when mistake next, 5th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Yur Next (11-13) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Jan.
