tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression
made all, clear from 2 out
held up, tracked winner after 3rd, weakened approaching 2 out
in rear, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened from 2 out
tracked winner, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out when blundered, one pace from last
tracked leaders and keen, lost place from 4 out
In the opener, Patxaran shades the vote ahead of Calfraz, with Woodford Consult looking best of the rest. Proven under today's conditions, Calfraz has been running well all year and still remains on a competitive mark. Patxaran has also been running well and, given that he may well have needed his latest run after a three-month break, rates as a leading player today. Woodford Consult has shown pomise, including when winning at Sedgefield, and holds claims, but the other three have something to prove. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Patxaran.
Calfraz 4-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, rallied next, kept on from last, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Nerone (11-2) at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Patxaran (IRE) 5-2 (10-2) Tracked leader, pushed along 3 out, kept on and every chance next, ridden and one pace when not fluent last, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Turbo (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Adalari (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Never a factor, 10th of 17, 36l behind Royal County Star (10-1) at Punchestown 2m hacp hdl hvy in Feb.
Woodford Consult 3-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place 5th, hung left and rallying in 4th when ran out 3 out in race won by Imperial Royale (11-1) at Leicester 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gd in Feb, 9 ran.
Countrywide Sun 50-1 (9-11) Behind, ridden after 3 out, left 4th next, never on terms, 4th of 10, 28l behind Polar Gunner (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Double Ells 100-1 (10-5) Always behind, 5th of 14, 29l behind Shiny Thing (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
