prominent, mistake 8th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in rear, mistake and well behind 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
mid-division from 1st, headway after 8th, led before 2 out, headed when untidy last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, challenged 8th, no impression from 3 out
bumped on bend after start, soon in touch, ridden after 4 out, mistake and weakened 2 out
hampered on bend soon after start, held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, headed 120 yards out, held towards finish
led, mistake 6th, not fluent next, stepped at 3 out, headed before next, weakened approaching last
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway before 3 out, weakened approaching next
mid-division, ridden after 6th, well behind 8th
tracked leader, mistake and ridden briefly 6th, jumped left next, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened
towards rear, not fluent 7th, remote 11th after 4 out, closing 8th 3 out, hanging left in 4th before last, led final 120 yards, stayed on well
mid-division, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, soon lost place, behind when mistake next, pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, ridden after 6th, well behind 4 out
held up in rear, headway from 7th, ridden after 4 out, every chance 2 out, still chance after last, no extra final 100 yards
Withdrawn
An impossible-looking handicap in which it’s feasible to make a case for each of the 16 runners. RED RISING easily beat Bryden Boy at Wetherby last month and probably has the most scope for further improvement. He has another 10lb to shoulder but has the physique to carry big weights. Classic Ben has already won three times this season and may not have finished yet judged on his latest second at Doncaster so is preferred to stablemate Clondaw Native. Aaron Lad beat Head To The Stars and Malapie at Market Rasen but is no certainty to confirm that form with the placed horses on worse terms while Taunton scorer Culture De Sivola steps up a couple of grades. Hatchet Jack has each-way claims again while Planet Nine has found some form, though still creeping up the handicap. Nautical Nitwit was just beaten at Doncaster on his last run over hurdles and has won a jumpers’ bumper since.
Red Rising (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, kept on well from last, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Bryden Boy (11-10) by 7l, 7 ran.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 6-4 (11-4) Held up in close 5th, smooth headway tracking leaders 4f out, disputing lead from over 2f out, won on the nod, won at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Mar beating Western Rules (11-4) by shd, 5 ran.
Planet Nine (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged before last, soon ridden, led run-in, kept on towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m 6f (3) sft in Feb beating Cadeyrn (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Clondaw Native (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Gunfleet (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Classic Ben (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) In touch, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden from 2 out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Buckle Street (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Head To The Stars 10-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, steady headway before omitted 3 out, went 2nd and stayed on run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Aaron Lad (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Zeroeshadesofgrey (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Led, clear when hit 2nd and 4th, ridden and reduced lead after 3 out, went left and headed 2 out, 4th and no extra when jumped left last, 4th of 7, 15l behind Moabit (11-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Bryden Boy (IRE) 18-1 (11-10) Behind, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Red Rising (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Malapie (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, good headway on outside chasing leaders before omitted 3 out, kept on into 3rd run-in, not reach winner, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Aaron Lad (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Southfield Royale 8-1 (11-10) Led to 5th, tracked leaders, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 9, 25 1/2l behind Gunfleet (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Culture De Sivola (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, every chance last, stayed on strongly to lead closing stages, won at Taunton 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Somerset Jem (10-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Aaron Lad (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Sweating, held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 8th, close 2nd 2 out, led before last, wandered run-in, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Head To The Stars (11-10) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Early Retirement (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway after 4 out, no extra before last, 5th of 13, 27l behind Buckle Street (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Gunfleet (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Hatchet Jack (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Raced on inside throughout, held up in last pair, headway before 2 out, effort on outside and hung left before the last, went never nearer 3rd post, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Ballyheigue Bay (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Tara View 14-1 (11-9) Towards rear, headway before 2 out, left 3rd after last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 11 3/4l behind Red Rising (10-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
