held up in rear, steady headway on outside from 3 out, chased leaders between last 2, lead approaching last, drew clear flat
held up in mid-division, steady headway from 3 out, lead soon after 2 out, headed between last 2, no extra
led and soon clear, reduced lead approaching 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, struggling and reminders 7th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
always behind
keen hold in mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
in rear, hit 5th, driven 8th, soon tailed off
held up in rear, headway from 3 out, chased leaders between last 2, stayed on flat to snatch 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
always behind, ridden 7th, soon lost touch
prominent in chasing group, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway from 9th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
chased clear leader, ridden and weakened soon after 2 out
mid-division, effort approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
prominent in chasing group, ridden and weakened before 3 out
in touch in chasing group, weakened under pressure approaching 2 out
held up in rear, headway to chase leader between last 2, led briefly before last, headed when blundered last, no impression on winner, lost 2nd near finish
behind, ridden after 3 out, headway on outside from 2 out, ridden and no impression between last 2
Drumbeater can get back to winning ways at the expense of Material World, Blue Business, Lyes Green and Standin Obligation to name but a few. In essence this is a wide open looking affair, but hopes are high that Drumbeater can bounce back after a couple of defeats that ended a good run by the Philip Hobbs horse. His current handicap mark reflects the improvement shown by the six-year-old over the winter, and as long as the ground remains good, he will be a threat to all. Off just 10st 5lb here, he should make a bold bid to get back to winning ways. The one-eyed Material World ran a blinder to chase home Refinement at Aintree, and although the suspicion is that she may be better suited going right-handed, she should give another good account. Blue Business has been struggling over fences, so we can see Paul Nicholls' s reasoning in running this past course-and-distance winner over timber again, but the fact remains that he is 12lb higher than when taking this contest 12 months ago. Lyes Green showed plenty of stamina when scoring over three miles at Ludlow last month and was runner-up to Denman no less at Wincanton in October, so has to be given a mention along with Standin Obligation now that the Pipe stable is coming out of the doldrums. At the weights we favour Drumbeater.
Standin Obligation (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Mistakes and always behind, 17th of 24, 25l behind Kadoun (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Blue Business 8-13fav (11-5) Held up, reminders from 4th, ridden 9th, ridden, weakened 4 out, 4th of 6, 12l behind Vingis Park (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd.
Drumbeater (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (11-12) Held up, headway after 6th, not fluent 2 out, chase winner last, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Ranelagh Gray (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Just Beth 6-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Ile Maurice (10-2) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Lyes Green 11-2 (11-8) Held up, headway 4 out, led 3 out, ridden out, won at Ludlow 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Darn Good (11-2) by 4l, 10 ran.
Pipssalio (SPA) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Sesame Rambler (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Material World 14-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, led 8th, jumped right and headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 21, 3l behind Refinement (10-12) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
Ostfanni (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Behind, lost touch after 7th, held off and pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Temoin (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 17 ran.
