tracked leaders, tracked leader 17th, blundered next, bludered 4 out, soon weakened, well beaten when refused last
made most until headed 4 out, ridden and chance 2 out, tired quickly before last
in rear, headway 17th, outpaced 5 out, rallied 2 out, never a danger
always in rear, pulled up 5 out
in touch, headway to join leader 5 out, led next, ridden and stayed on flat
held up, struggling with circuit to go, behind when pulled up last
with leader until 17th, ridden 4 out, weakened from 2 out
held up, headway 4th, ridden 15th, chased winner after 2 out, pressed winner flat stayed on
in rear, ridden 8th, tailed off 16th, pulled up 5 out
Blazing Diva beat BILLSGREY by 15 lengths over 3m2f at Carlisle last week but has a 7lb penalty here and the latter may well have needed that run. He had out-and-out stayer Matmata De Tendron well behind over 3m3f at Sedgefield in November and is probably the one to beat today. Seeking Power is gradually dropping down the weights and can't be ignored, but Panama At Once appears to have lost the plot and Only The Best may be suffering from a lack of confidence. Ayr second Aghill looks high enough in the weights now but is till preferred to Master D'Or, whose stamina has to be taken on trust over this marathon trip.
Aghill (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, jumped slow 4th, headway 11th, in 3rd when blundered badly 5 out, hit next, kept on from 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Lampion Du Bost (11-4) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, led 2nd, ridden clear before last, eased towards finish, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft beating Billsgrey (10-13) by 15l, 8 ran.
Master d'Or (FR) 5-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 10th, hampered 12th, no impression 4 out, soon well held, 6th of 8, 26l behind Tim The Chair (11-11) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
Only The Best 10-1 (10-12) Held up in 3rd, pushed along after 10th, outpaced by leaders approaching 12th, fell 15th, in a race won by You Know Yourself (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs in Feb, 4 ran.
Matmata de Tendron (FR) 25-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, headway to go 2nd at 6th, ridden to challenge after 3 out, never troubled winner, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Mauricetheathlete (10-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Billsgrey (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway to go 4th 3 out, went 3rd before last, kept on to chase winner run-in, no impression, 2nd of 8, 15l behind Blazing Diva (11-6) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft.
Panama At Once 13-2 (10-9) Held up in touch, blundered 6th, pushed along next, jumped slow 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Lampion Du Bost (11-4) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
Seeking Power (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Held up in touch, pushed along 8th, lost place from 10th, tailed off, 5th of 8, 33l behind Lampion Du Bost (11-4) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Polobury 6-1 (11-7) Kpt on wl 3 out; nvr nr to chall, 3rd of 15, 4l behind Grande Monsieur (12-0) at Corbridge 3m ptp gs.
