in rear, not fluent 2nd, closed 6th, 3rd before 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, well held from next
not always fluent, led, clear until 6th, headed before 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden before 5th, weakened after 7th
chased clear leader, mistakes 1st and 2nd, closed 6th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, closed 6th, 2nd from next, led before 4 out, clear 2 out, mistake last, stayed on well
non runner
Keel Haul won this last year but has turned in a couple of poor efforts since scoring at Cheltenham in November. Gardefort was upped 9lb for winning at Wetherby last month and could only manage third at Doncaster last time behind Dandridge. He may not have finished improving yet but neither has ULCK DU LIN (NAP). The latter was beaten only a nose at Sandown a fortnight ago when clear of the rest and Paul Nicholls' yard has started to fire in the winners again. Sail By The Sea hasn’t raced since failing to complete in last year's Arkle at Cheltenham but showed ability before that and makes most appeal of the remainder.
Gardefort (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, ridden and went 3rd place from last, kept on, 3rd of 10, 9 1/2l behind Dandridge (10-2) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Sail By The Sea (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Prominent on outside, mistake 8th, lost place 10th, behind next, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Keel Haul (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, ridden 7th, well beaten 4 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Bold Henry (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Gentleman Jon 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leader outside, not fluent 5th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, 3rd and weakening last, last of 3, 28 1/2l behind Doctor Harper (11-0) at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Ultragold (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, mistake and lost place 3 out, well beaten next, 8th of 9, 27 3/4l behind Bishops Road (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 7-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, driven to challenge from 2 out, led narrowly after last, stayed on, headed near finish, 2nd of 4, shd behind Arthur's Oak (10-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb.