led until 9th, outpaced 11th, lost touch from next, tailed off
took keen hold, headway 4th, chased leader 6th, led 9th, clear 3 out, not fluent 2 out, hit last, stayed on well, comfortably
held up towards rear, in touch 8th, mistake 13th, 3rd when mistake 4 out, no extra next
in rear, not fluent 8th, losing touch when mistake 11th, tailed off
tracked leader until 6th, in touch, reminder after 10th, outpaced before 5 out, soon well held
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, rallied before 8th, chased winner 11th, no impression from 3 out, stayed on one pace
in touch in mid-division, disputing 4 lenghts 3rd and ridden when fell 5 out
towards rear, pushed along and detached from others when stumbled and pulled up after 7th
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, lost place approaching 8th, behind from 11th
Alan Fleming's Ultimate Limit is certainly worth a second look in this grade if his Sandown run looks to have blown away a few cobwebs. Black Beauty was a decent novice for Evan Williams a couple of years ago and should strip fitter for an outing between the flags, but Back To Bid doesn't look the force of old and Classic Clover needs a more searching test of stamina. OCA DE THAIX doesn't look an easy ride but had Back Is Back behind when beating previous winner What Of It over a shorter trip at Ffos Las earlier this month and a hat-trick beckons here with a similar effort.
Classic Clover 33-1 (12-1) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, lost place next, reminders after 5th, behind 7th, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Jayne's Crusader (12-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f hts chs (6) gf.
Oca De Thaix (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) Mid-division on outer, chased leaders before 5th, close up approaching 9th, outpaced and pushed along after 5 out, headway from next, shaken up to lead last, kept on well, ridden out, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gs beating What Of It (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Ultimate Limit 9-2 (11-11) Not fluent in rear, never on tems, tailed off when pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Mister Apple's (11-13) at Sandown 3m hts chs (4) gd, 6 ran.
Black Beauty 10-1 (12-0) Prom; led 10-14; wknd 4 out, 5th of 11, 37l behind Blackstaff (12-3) at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd.
Oopsmylord (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, hit 8th, pushed along before 11th, weakened 5 out, 4th of 5, well behind Baby Run (11-13) at Haydock 3m hts chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Worship The Stars 7-2 (12-7) Went 2nd 3 out; one pce, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Heavy Weather (12-0) at Garnons 3m ptp gs.
Back Is Back (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened before 11th, 6th of 13, 30l behind Oca De Thaix (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gs.
Back To Bid (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up, fell 4th, in a race won by Starburst Diamond (11-5) at Warwick 3m 2f hts chs (6) gd, 8 ran.
Celestial Dragon (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Hdwy 12; wknd 14, 4th of 12, 30l behind Noble Ben (12-0) at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 20-1 (10-9) In rear, struggling 10th, some headway before 4 out, ridden and no impression before next, tailed off, 7th of 11, 40l behind Delgany Gunner (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
