led, headed 9th, tracked leaders, hampered 11th, pulled up before next
in touch, hit 9th and next, headway 12th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, held when fell next
close up, headway and prominent 8th, not fluent 12th and lost ground, ridden 4 out, plugged on to go 3rd flat
in rear, pushed along 8th, never a factor
in rear, ridden 12th, never a factor
fell first
prominent, reminders 7th, tracked leaders 9th, prominent 12th, ridden 4 out, hampered and left 2nd 2 out, kept on
prominent, led 9th, hit 11th and fell
towards rear, not fluent 10th, headway 12th, led next, ridden and left clear 2 out, ridden out
Demi Sang has only run once over fences in the last 12 months but did finish second on that occasion and has placed twice over hurdles more recently. Mercian Prince got back to winning ways at Kempton but has been hit with a 10lb rise and prefers faster going nowadays. Mr McGo still looks a few pounds too high and weakened quickly at Aintree while Ravenhill Road has fallen in both starts this season, though would be a threat to all if putting in a clear round. JOHNBB (NAP) quickly settled matters once hitting the front here last month. That was his first run since the start of the year and he has his ground again so a 6lb rise seems fair. Time To Get Up was an eye-catcher on his reappearance but may need more time while Twotwothree is upped in class.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 3rd, clear 2 out, ran on, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Carolines Charm (11-0) by 12l, 9 ran.
Johnbb (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division on inside, good headway chasing leaders before 11th, went 2nd after 4 out, led last, driven clear, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Schiehallion Munro (11-12) by 4 1/4l, 9 ran.
Ravenhill Road (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Midfield, hit 2nd and dropped towards rear, blundered 11th, ridden after 4 out, well adrift when fell 2 out, at Haydock 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov.
Time To Get Up (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, no impression before 3 out, went 4th last, 3rd of 10, 12 1/2l behind Canelo (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Demi Sang (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Towards rear, hit 7th, ridden and some headway before 3 out, chased leaders last, ran on under pressure flat, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Big Bad Bear (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Keen early, raced wide, held up, reminders and struggling after 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 8th, at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Shannon Bridge (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Prominent, pushed along and weakened 3 out, pulled up last, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mr Mcgo (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, blundered badly 12th, soon weakened, 10th of 13, dist behind Clan Legend (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Twotwothree (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Midfield, mistake 3 out and soon pushed, ridden after 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Est Illic (11-1) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Nov.