chased leading pair, went 2nd 11th until before 2 out, rallied to challenge at the last, stayed on to lead run-in
held up in 4th, reminders after 13th, headway to lead narrowly 2 out, ridden and already headed when fell last
chased leader, hit 10th, lost 2nd next, weakened after 14th, behind when mistake 4 out, pulled up before next
led, blundered 1st, mistake 4th, hit 10th, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied to lead again approaching last, headed and no extra run-in
soon struggling in rear, reminders after 3rd and 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 15th
ALCALA is among the upper bracket of hunter chasers in this country and the recent Musselburgh winner faces a simple task here, despite conceding weight all round. Magna Sam has been pulled up in both starts since winning at Ludlow early last year and Straidnahanna also has a bit to prove so Tanit River and Teeton Surprise may fight out the minor placings.
Alcala (FR) 2-5fav (11-10) Held up going well, challenged 13th, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, readily, won at Musselburgh 3m 3f (5) gd in Mar beating Point The Way (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Magna Sam 22-1 (11-6) Chased leader until mistake 4th, lost place after 6th, pulled up before 10th, at Ludlow 3m (5) sft in Jan.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Off the pace in 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Leicester 2m 7f (3) sft in Mar.
Tanit River (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, jumped right 1st, hampered 3rd, awkward 5th, not fluent 9th, almost upsides 11th, led 12th, ridden before 3 out where not fluent, blundered and eventually unseated rider 2 out, at Fontwell 3m 2f (6) sft in Feb.
Teeton Surprise 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, losing place 13th, well beaten after 15th, plugged on from 3 out, went 3rd flat, no impression, 3rd of 12, 25l behind Duhallow Tornado (11-2) at Wetherby 3m (6) sft in Feb.
