mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression flat
prominent, ridden 3 out, held last, no extra towards finish
led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 5th, weakened after next, tailed off
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, no impression 2 out
led after 1st, headed and mistake last, lost 2nd towards finish
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, unable to trouble winner
in rear, well beaten 3 out, mistake 2 out, never involved
mid-division, headway on outside before 5th, outpaced 3 out, well held 2 out
chased leaders, outpaced after 6th, well beaten before 3 out
mid-division, headway after 3 out, challenging when mistake 2 out, led last, stayed on well, clear towards finish
always towards rear
not always fluent, tracked leaders, pecked 1st, challenged after 6th until last, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway when not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on, went 4th close home
rear of mid-division, jumped left at times, well beaten after 6th
always well behind, tailed off
A terrific start to the track’s most valuable meeting of the jumps season with some promising novices pitched in against experienced handicappers. Well Educated has won five times since bought of a Hexham seller a year ago but has looked in the handicapper’s grip the last twice. Scots Poet has been going well at Musselburgh but this slightly better ground could see WAR SOLDIER renew the promise he showed at the end of last year. Traprain Law has won three of his last four, including one here, and should be in the firing-line again while Shelikesthelights is on a hat-trick and will be 5lb higher in the weights from next week. Afadil, only a pound higher than when runner-up at Ascot at the start of the month, looks the pick of a trio of four-year-olds.
First Impression (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden 2f out, gradually weakened, last of 8, 12 1/4l behind Estidama (9-2) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Carole's Pass (FR) (11-2) 6th of 15, 20 1/4l behind Marie Coastala (10-7) at Compiegne 2m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Forcing Bull (FR) 1-3fav (11-12) Made all, soon 3 lengths clear, increased lead from 2 out, unchallenged, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar beating Mr Hailstone (11-5) by 12l, 4 ran.
War Soldier (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Mid-division, hard ridden to go distant 2nd 3 out, lost 2nd approaching last and no extra, 3rd of 8, 9 3/4l behind Stainsby Girl (12-0) at Newcastle 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Traprain Law (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Made all, shaken up before 2 out, soon ridden along, faced sustained challenge run-in, kept on well, gamely, won at Ayr 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Ginger Mail (11-13) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bythesametoken (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Towards rear, moderate 5th after 2nd, moderate 4th 4 out, progress to moderate 3rd after 3 out, improved to moderate 2nd 2 out ridden before last, kept on run-in, not trouble easy winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Doyen Ta Win (10-0) at Wexford 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Mar.
Rattle Owl 5-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, hit 5th, not fluent 7th, headway final bend, no impression, disputing well beaten 4th 3 out, 4th of 9, dist behind Celebre D'Allen (11-3) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Well Educated (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Held up, pushed along and weakened 4 out, pulled up next, at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Medyaf 50-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, 24 1/2l behind Comfort Zone (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Afadil (FR) 15-2 (11-8) Led until after 2nd, chased leader, lost 2nd after 4 out, chased leaders, went 2nd again turning in, stayed on same pace and no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Blueking D'oroux (12-0) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Dr Sanderson (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Midfield, ridden over 3f out, still in touch 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 5th of 9, 15l behind Fingal's Hill (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Shelikesthelights (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Made all, good jump 2 out and quickened clear, soon well in command, coasted home, easily, won at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Dom Perry (11-12) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Scots Poet 5-1 (10-11) Close up, led 3 out, bad mistake 2 out, blundered and headed next, no extra, 3rd of 14, 3 3/4l behind Cuban Cigar (11-1) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Ten Ten Twenty (IRE) 18-1 (12-1) Raced keenly, disputed lead, not fluent 4th, shaken up and headed before 6th, soon lost position and tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, at Newcastle 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Super Stars (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Held up and behind, steady headway on inside before 2 out, switched right after 2 out, kept on into 3rd at the last, 3rd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Resplendent Grey (11-6) at Wetherby 2m mdn (4) gs in Apr.
