held up in rear, keen early, mistake 5th, not fluent 7th, mistake 14th, soon well behind, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, led approaching last, clear flat, stayed on well
prominent, lost place before 4 out, well beaten from next
held up in mid-division, headway on inside 12th, jumped right and mistake 4 out, led 2 out, headed before last, no extra flat
held up in rear, some headway 4 out, no impression next
prominent, slow 12th, not fluent next, led after 14th, edged right after 4 out, jumped left 3 out, headed 2 out, still every chance last, no impression on winner flat
mid-division, not fluent 6th, pushed along after 10th, effort 14th, lost place 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 4 out, 6th 2 out, kept on flat, went 4th towards finish
led, jumped right 7th, headed after 14th, bumped last, weakened flat
held up in mid-division, blundered 8th, not fluent 12th, headway 3 out, bumped last, went 3rd flat, one pace
NonRunner
NonRunner
Warren Greatrex sent out last year’s winner but The Nipper looks to have a stiff task under top weight. Still Believing was only beaten a neck 12 months ago, with Song Saa third and Two Smokin Barrels unplaced, but Evan Williams’ mare is now 10 and hard to predict. Timeforwest might still be well treated, despite having gone up 7lb for her win at Warwick, but RONS DREAM gets another chance. A useful staying hurdler, she’s not done a lot wrong over fences so far and looked like following up her Kelso victory at Bangor last week when leading at the last only to be outpaced on the run-in. Tara Mist beat Two Smokin Barrels at Leicester and the pair meet on the same terms so Henry Daly’s nine-year-old looks a danger. The much-improved Sheneededtherun and Socksy are others to consider.
The Nipper (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened next, eased, last of 3, dist behind Happy Diva (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) hvy in Feb.
Rons Dream 3-1fav (11-12) Held up in rear, hampered 1st, headway before 13th, 2nd 3 out, led next, headed soon after last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Same Circus (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Two Smokin Barrels 4-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway before 8th, tracked leader, led after last, kept on towards finish, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Muffins For Tea (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Tara Mist 11-4 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, went slightly right last, all out, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Two Smokin Barrels (11-12) by nk, 4 ran.
Timeforwest (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, son in rear and in touch, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, kept on strongly, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Sister Sibyl (10-13) by 9l, 4 ran.
Socksy (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden when not fluent 3 out, 4th and beaten before next, one pace, 4th of 8, 7l behind Sheneededtherun (10-6) at Warwick 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Still Believing (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Held up, not fluent 7th, headway on outside 9th, lost place 13th, no impression after, 6th of 8, 20 1/4l behind Sheneededtherun (10-6) at Warwick 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Milly Baloo 7-1 (11-11) Keen, soon tracking leaders, 3rd after 3 out, modest 2nd before mistake 2 out, no chance with winner, mistake last, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Bridane Rebel (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Marienstar (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 7th, led briefly 10th, jumped left and lost 2nd 13th, chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on same pace in 4th, 4th of 7, 12 3/4l behind Misty Mai (11-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Sheneededtherun (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, mistake 13th, headway from next, close 2nd when carried right 2 out, soon switched left, led flat, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Marienstar (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Song Saa 11-4 (10-12) In touch, went 2nd from 9th, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Rene's Girl (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 5f lst (1) sft in Jan.
Maid Of Milan (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Led, pushed along and joined 2 out when slithered on landing and fell, at Fakenham 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
