held up, headway chasing leaders 4th, weakened before 6th, behind and pulled up
chased leaders, led before 5th, clear after 3 out, ridden and reduced lead before 2 out, headed soon after last,
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, ridden after next, one pace in 4th run-in
raced wide, chased leader, led narrowly 2nd until before 5th, chased clear leader until after 3 out, chased leaders, 2nd 2 out, upsides last, soon led, ridden clear
held up, behind when pushed along and struggling on paddock bend after 4th, tailed off 5th, pulled up soon after
chased leaders, reminder before 5th, lost place and weakened rapidly when pulled up before next
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, steady headway approaching 6th, pushed along and one pace in 5th after 3 out
held up, headway chasing leaders 4th, pushed along after 6th, soon struggling, behind and pulled up before 2 out
led until 2nd, chased leaders, 2nd after 3 out, closing when mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd
Withdrawn
Paul Nicholls will be hoping that either Rothman or Earthmoves can triumph in the race that carries their trainer's name but the latter is going to struggle to reverse recent course and distance running with BLUE BUTTONS on only 5lb better terms. Harry Fry's mare is useful in this grade and Gary Derwin takes off 7lb again. Shammick Boy isn't as well handicapped as when bolting up at Exeter last month while Dubawi Island has yet to recapture last season's useful form but Harristown has been knocking on the door, though is steadily climbing the weights as a result. Heronry and River Deep could feature if putting recent setbacks behind them, though the latter is closely matched with Sidbury Hill on the form book.
Harristown 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 6th, led 2 out, ridden and hard pressed between last 2, headed last, rallied and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Lightentertainment (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 3f (3) hvy in Dec.
Heronry (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Soon behind, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Batavir (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Blue Buttons (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Made all, driven after 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on gamely, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy beating Cadoudoff (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3rd, left 2nd at 3rd, led 5th, clear 3 out, eased last 100 yards, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Thundering Home (10-0) by 10l, 6 ran.
Union Saint (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3rd, lost place after 5th, weakened 3 out, last of 9, 43l behind Blue Buttons (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy.
Rothman (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Edgy and mounted on course, held up in last pair in touch, pushed along briefly bend after 5th, headway into 2nd 7th until pushed along after 3 out, outpaced approaching next, plugged on again run-in, 4th of 6, 6l behind Pull The Chord (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
River Deep (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Midfield, weakened 5th, soon beaten, 8th of 10, well behind Kilcooley (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Earthmoves (FR) 11-10fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, ridden before next, one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Blue Buttons (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy.
Sidbury Hill 3-1 (10-5) Hampered 1st, chased leaders, hit 6th, ridden soon after 3 out, upsides last, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, just held on, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Singlefarmpayment (10-12) by shd, 16 ran.
Dubawi Island (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders on inside, outpaced after 3 out, no chance after, mistake last, 6th of 8, 15l behind Sleepy Haven (11-6) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft.