Soon led, headed and chased leader after 4th, regained lead 5 out, ridden after 4 out, ran on well after last, just held on
Prominent, nudged along before 4 out, no extra
Held up, mistakes 3rd and 4th, detached last 5 out, headway to chase leaders 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on after last
Held up, headway to chase leaders 4 out, pushed along 3 out, ran on well after last, just denied
Midfield, chased leader 4 out, no extra after 2 out
Prominent, nudged along before 5 out, tailed off before 4 out
Chased leader, led after 4th, headed 5 out, ridden and weakened 3 out
Always towards rear
NonRunner
Ballyvic Boru’s victory here last month was his second over track and trip. However, Some Reign looked to be in command when falling at the last that day and is 2lb better off. Smarty Wild never threatened when third at Ascot but that should have blown away the cobwebs and the Philip Hobbs’ charge won off this mark over hurdles a year ago. JOKE DANCER is another back on a winning mark and this represents a drop in class for Sue Smith’s gelding, who only weakened on the run to the last in a Listed race here last time. Billingsley went from strength-to-strength last term but faces no easy task on his reappearance giving weight to some useful two-milers.
Joke Dancer 11-1 (10-10) Led, jumped right at times, headed 2nd, stayed prominent, not fluent 3rd, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 11, 25l behind Huntsman Son (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Oct.
Protek Des Flos (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Raced in fourth, pushed along 5 out, kept on at same pace, 4th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Drumconnor Lad (11-12) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Smarty Wild 15-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 9th, headway approaching 11th, struggling before 3 out, went 3rd from 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 8, 15 3/4l behind Sully D'Oc Aa (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Some Reign (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, switched left before 4th, soon 2nd, led 4 out, 3 lengths clear when fell last, at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Ballyvic Boru (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, switched right after 2 out, rallied and left close up last, soon led, clear towards finish, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Cilaos Glace (11-4) by 3l, 7 ran.
Azzuri 80-1 (10-6) Prominent in chasing pack until slow 5th, chased leaders, lost place before 4 out, well beaten when mistake 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Magic Saint (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
So Easy Way (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Slightly worse than mid-division, awkward 5th, progress to track leaders before 4 out where slow, soon beaten, 8th of 11, 15l behind Amoola Gold (11-2) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Saint Leo (FR) 3-1fav (10-8) In rear, began to lose touch 6th, pulled up after 3 out, at Ayr 2m hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Billingsley (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-10) Jumped right, made all, clear before last, stayed on gamely, all out, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Boagrius (11-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
