led and soon well clear, 25 lengths ahead when blundered 6th, not fluent 8th, reduced advantage before 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon lost place, stayed on flat
behind until pulled up before 6th
held up, headway 8th, hard ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up, headway 8th, every chance 2 out, no impression and hanging left approaching last
behind from 7th, tailed off
held up, headway approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, kept on steadily after last
chased clear leader, improved after 9th, led approaching 2 out, driven clear approaching last, ran on
held up, struggling 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, mistakes 6th, headway next, mistake 8th, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
held up, in rear when blundered 7th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, went 3rd approaching 5th, chased winner after 2 out, stayed on but no chance with winner
behind from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Blue Business has been much improved of late and is taken to win his second consecutive handicap at the main expense of Robert Alner's pair Back Nine and Bowleaze. Paul Nicholls has clearly got to the bottom of Blue Business who has fulfilled earlier promise with wins in his last three starts, latterly when running out the convincing winner of a Wincanton handicap. A 7lb rise for that latest success looks perfectly fair and the son of Roselier is taken to follow up. Back Nine has won his last two starts in handicaps and has to be respected but Andy Thornton prefers recent Newbury winner Bowleaze, although it would probably have been although decision for him and the easier weight may have been the deciding factor. Martin Pipe saddles four runners with Mioche d'Estruval marginally preferred to top weight Quick, the 11-year-old Tarxien and the frustrating Idaho d'Ox. A market move for Stage By Stage would be of interest with Tony McCoy up but Blue Business sets a decent standard and gets the vote.
Quick 50-1 With leaders, led after 1st, headed 3rd, pushed along 7th, behind when hampered 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 22, well behind Holland Park at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd.
Stage By Stage (USA) 66-1 Behind, headway after 9th, mistake next, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 18, 22l behind Moulin Riche at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Mar.
Zabenz (NZ) 12-1 In touch, mistake 3rd, tracked leader 5th until 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, 33l behind Migwell at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Feb.
Mioche d'Estruval (FR) 14-1 Held up, some headway approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 22, 31l behind Holland Park at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd.
Ardashir (FR) 7-1 Never fluent or travelling, always towards rear, 8th of 11, well behind Whitenzo at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) hvy in Mar.
Tarxien 33-1 Held up in touch, shaken up 7th, no impression approaching last, 14th of 22, 11l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Blue Business 3-1fav Held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, hit last, hard ridden and ran on well to lead close home, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Feb beating Chamoss Royale by 2l, 9 ran.
Bowleaze (IRE) 7-1 Held up rear, steady headway from 7th, always going well, led briefly 3 out, led on bit last, quickened clear, won at Newbury 3m nov hdl (E) gs beating Dancing Rock by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Back Nine (IRE) 9-2jt-fav Keen, held up behind leaders, effort and not much room 2 out, chased leader alone before last, strong challenge flat, driven ahead final stride, won at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Mar beating Greenfield by a shd, 14.
Mr Fluffy 50-1 Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, no chance when mistake and unseated rider at the last in race won by Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar, 29 ran.
Idaho d'Ox (FR) 25-1 Held up, ridden 8, hampered 4 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 22, 15l behind Holland Park at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd.
Homeleigh Mooncoin 33-1 unseated rider in race won by Rimpton Boy at Charlton Horetho 3m ptp gf in Mar, 7 ran.
Sir Talbot 10-1 Mid-division, mistake and lost place 4th, mistake 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Indalo at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
