prominent, under pressure 6 out, kept on after 3 out
behind, mistake 1st, soon detached, outpaced halfway, headway 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never on terms
prominent, led after 3rd, headed 11th, rallied 4 out, chased winner next, kept on under pressure
mid-division, weakened after 5 out, tailed off when pulled up last
mid-division, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leader before last, kept on well, nearest finish
chased leaders, lost place 5th, behind 8th, pulled up 4 out
held up in rear, weakened 5 out, pulled up next
held up in touch, lost place 9th, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
in touch, weakened 9th, tailed off 11th, pulled up after next
behind, headway 6 out, chased leaders next, weakened 3 out
led until 3rd, led again 11th, ridden 3 out, all out, held on gamely
mid-division, weakened 10th
in touch, headway 12th, chased leaders 4 out, stayed on same pace
BALLYBREEN (NAP) goes from strength-to-strength. He is 17lb higher than when his winning run began but produced another gutsy performance at Carlisle last month, when scoring in a higher grade, and clearly loves a slog through the mud. Kiwi Myth, Big Time Frank and Great Tempo were all behind here earlier and may struggle to reverse the form. Big Meadow is back on the mark off which he won at Chepstow in November but he’s been well beaten in all starts since. Kilcrea Bridge is also back on a winning mark but on a long losing run. Inspireus is only 3lb higher than when successful over 2m4f at Lingfield but he has lots to prove over this longer trip.
Big Meadow (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Always prominent, pecked 11th, reminder after 12th, soon outpaced, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 22l behind Echo Watt (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Kilcrea Bridge 5-2fav (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, well beaten from next, plugged on from last bend to take modest 4th flat, 4th of 9, 27 1/4l behind Hang Tough (10-7) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Ballybreen (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Led until 2nd, slow next, led after 5th, headed 10th, led 12th until 13th, mistake 14th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on dourly, led again towards finish, won at Carlisle 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Real Armani (10-5) by nk, 10 ran.
Steel Express (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Held up, niggled along and struggling approaching 4 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Springfield Fox (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Great Tempo (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Always about same place in mid-division, never involved, 7th of 12, 32 1/2l behind Ballybreen (10-9) at Exeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Kiwi Myth 6-1 (11-1) Held up early, closer in mid-division at 4th, headway chasing leaders before bypassing 8th, pushed along and stayed on same pace from 4 out, 4th of 12, 16 3/4l behind Ballybreen (10-9) at Exeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Moreece (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led, blundered 2nd, headed before next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 14th, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Inspireus (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, closer at 4th, pushed along and outpaced in 5th after 4 out, rallied in 3rd 3 out, mistake last, stayed on well run-in, joined leader post, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (5) hvy in Jan beating Touch Screen (10-1), 10 ran.
Big Time Frank (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Led, narrowly headed 3 out, chased leader, in front again at the last, idled badly run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Echo Watt (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
General Girling 18-1 (10-7) Held up, behind when hit 8th and reminders, tailed off when pulled up before 11th, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Touch Screen (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Mistakes, towards rear, behind 9th, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Strictlyadancer (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Sunny Ledgend 28-1 (11-0) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 9, 33 3/4l behind Miss Zip (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Ruffling Feathers (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Towards rear, mistake 6th, well beaten before 4 out, kept on from last, 5th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Kingston Mimosa (10-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Midnight Mustang 33-1 (10-0) Mid-division, no headway from 3 out, 9th of 14, 20 1/4l behind Sign Of War (11-4) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (5) sft in Feb.
