mid-division, ridden before 4 out, kept on before 2 out, no impression
tracked leader, led before 15th, headed after last, kept on and no extra towards finish
mid-division, headway before 8th, tracked leader, led after last, kept on towards finish
tracked leaders, weakened from 15th, tailed off 17th
towards rear, ridden before 4 out, never dangerous, pulled up
in rear, mistake 4th, soon pushed along, headway before 4 out, one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along 15th and outpaced, in 5th before 3 out, no impression
led, mistake 10th, headed before 15th, weakened from 2 out
behind, outpaced from 17th, kept on from 3 out, one pace
This looks tougher than the novices’ handicap Muffins For Tea won at Taunton recently though he did score by six lengths and should go well again. But TWO SMOKIN BARRELS (NAP) is back on a winning mark and after suffering a narrow-margin defeat at Leicester on her latest outing, she gets the vote to come out best today. Kap Jazz has a shout off his current mark but is returning from a lay-off while Crank Em Up makes more appeal than Thedrinkymeister on recent placed efforts.
Vieux Lille (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up and behind, steady headway chasing leaders under pressure before 17th, kept on into modest 4th after 3 out, 4th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Daklondike (11-10) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Muffins For Tea 10-1 (11-8) Prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, challenged 6th, led after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating The Kings Writ (10-8) by 6l, 9 ran.
Two Smokin Barrels 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 12th, not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, switched left flat, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 4, nk behind Tara Mist (11-11) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Kap Jazz (FR) 5-2fav (12-1) Tracked leader, led 8th, ridden and joined 4 out, headed next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Shady Glen (11-8) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Domingo (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Behind, headway 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra from last, 6th of 11, 31 1/4l behind Jennys Surprise (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Thedrinkymeister (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Ridden away from start, soon chasing leaders, 2nd from 3rd until 5 out, 2nd again after 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Paddy The Oscar (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Crank Em Up (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th or 8th, soon ridden, 5 lengths 3rd when hit 4 out, went 2nd next, mistake and 12 lengths down 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Big Meadow (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Saroque (IRE) 11-2 (12-1) Tracked leaders, lost place before 14th, not fluent 4 out, soon outpaced, ridden and weakened after next, last of 7, 32 1/2l behind Water Wagtail (11-2) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Fight Commander (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 4 out, left disputing 2nd next, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Frank N Fair (10-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Dec.