prominent, not fluent 7th, ridden and lost place after 12th, well beaten 4 out
held up in rear, headway after 8th, went 2nd 11th, led after next, clear before 2 out until after last, pulled out extra and stayed on well to assert final 100 yards
prominent, not always fluent, went 2nd 3 out, closed after last and pressed winner briefly, stayed on but no impression final 100 yards
ran in snatches and many positions, jumped slowly 11th, well in touch 4 out, no impression after next, well beaten 5th flat
held up in rear, headway on inside 4 out, no impression on leaders before 2 out, lost 3rd flat
chased leaders on inside, not fluent and unseated rider 2nd
led until 2nd, chased leaders, lost place after 8th, closed 10th, hampered 4 out, no impression on leaders, went 3rd flat
took keen hold, led 2nd until after 12th, still disputing 2nd but looked to be fading when fell 4 out
Gold Man was knocked sideways by the fall of Mighty Leader at the first here on his chasing bow and gave Tom Bellamy no chance of staying in the saddle. But his long-term future lies over the larger obstacles and it would be no surprise to see him go well today with a clear round. Playing The Field won here and at Towcester in May of last year but hasn't been seen since while both Sandynow and Railway Storm are struggling to get their heads in front. COBAJAYISLAND has his first run since finishing second at Newcastle in January but he's gone well fresh in the past and looks nicely treated so gets a tentative vote.
Porters War (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Held up in last pair, mistake 12th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 8, 34 1/2l behind Top Cat Henry (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Muckle Roe (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 11th, well beaten 4 out, 7th of 9, 35 3/4l behind Kodicil (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Cobajayisland (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leading pair, brushed 7th, 2nd 8th, led 11th until next, led again 4 out, ridden before next, narrowly headed after 2 out, weakened run-in, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Up And Go (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Sandynow (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 7 1/4l behind King Fontaine (11-9) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Playing The Field (IRE) 6-4fav (11-9) Held up in rear, hampered 1st, headway 5 out, led 2 out, ridden before last, driven out, won at Towcester 3m hcp (5) gs in May beating Flugzeug (10-7) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Gold Man (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Hampered and unseated rider 1st, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Railway Storm (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) In touch in rear, hampered 2nd, mistake 10th, headway after 14th, outpaced 16th, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd post, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Distracted (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Twyford 11-2 (12-0) Led til hdd & wknd 4 out; pu 2 out, at Cothelstone 3m in Apr.
