tracked clear leader, pushed along and closed 3 out, ridden next and looked held, rallied on long run to last, driven to lead gamely towards finish
led, soon 5 lengths clear, ridden and reduced lead 3 out, headed soon after next, weakened on the long run to last
close up in rear, slow 5th, struggling before 3 out
close up, headway to dispute 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden to lead soon after 2 out, driven and headed towards finish, lost 2nd close home
tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, rallied on long run to last, switched right flat, ran on to go 2nd close home
NonRunner
First Flow continued winning ways on his reappearance with a narrow victory at Ascot after recovering from a couple of early mistakes. He’ll be in the mix again and can confirm running with last year’s winner Marracudja but NUTS WELL (NAP) will prove tougher to beat. Ann Hamilton’s progressive chaser won the valuable Grade 2 Old Roan chase at Aintree last time, with subsequent winner Clondaw Castle back in second, and hasn’t finished winning yet on the strength of that form. The King Of May finished runner-up at Newbury on his return to action and is preferred in this grade to Some Reign while Eragone, a winner in France, failed to complete at Carlisle on his debut for new connections.
First Flow (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Mid-division, mistake 1st, 2nd and 5th, headway from 8th, switched left after 2 out, led last, held on, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Amoola Gold (10-5) by nk, 8 ran.
Marracudja (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair, left in 4th and slightly hampered 5th, left disputing close 3rd at 8th, outright 3rd 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out until ridden and blundered last, plugged on, 3rd of 7, 7 3/4l behind Zanza (11-3) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Some Reign (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Held up, headway to chase leaders 4 out, pushed along 3 out, ran on well after last, just denied, 2nd of 8, shd behind Joke Dancer (11-10) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
The King Of May (FR) 11-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, left in 3rd place 2nd, left 2nd 5th, dropped to 3rd next, left 2nd and slightly hampered 8th, dropped to 3rd before 2 out, 2nd again at the last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Zanza (11-3) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Eragone (FR) 22-1 (11-10) Midfield, not fluent 1st, headway and tracked leaders 9th, pushed along and headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, pulled up soon after, at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Nuts Well 18-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place when not fluent 11th, rallied after 2 out, mistake last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, led towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct beating Clondaw Castle (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
