tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced in 4th after 3 out, went 3rd when hampered after last, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair
blundered 1st, mid-division on outside, not fluent 11th, soon outpaced, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 4 out, chased winner after next, one pace when lost 2nd and blundered last, not recover, tailed off
made most to 12th, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
behind, struggling 11th, stayed on to take modest 4th flat, never near leaders
tracked leaders, driven to chase leading pair after 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach winner
mid-division, outpaced 12th, never on terms, weakened before 2 out
pressed leader, led 12th, ridden after last, kept on well
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression when mistake next
held up behind, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous
A 7lb rise and the stiff Sandown fences proved too much for Sands Cove last time. He had won convincingly at Southwell before that and is not easily dismissed. Arthur's Oak finished well ahead of the latter at Sandown and could also figure but NOBLE LEGEND is just preferred on his recent placed efforts in this grade, including a second to the progressive Shuil Royale at Newbury last time. Daymar Bay remains 8lb higher than when scoring at Exeter over a year ago now while Viva Steve has lost his form since finishing runner-up at Market Rasen in November.
Flaming Gorge (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Chased winner until 8th, chased leaders, weakened 12th, went poor 4th 2 out, 4th of 8, 24l behind Comeonginger (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Book'em Danno (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leader from 1st until 10th, weakened 13th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Vesperal Dream (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 5 ran.
Daymar Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, not fluent 7th or 10th, headway approaching 4 out, soon no impression, last of 9, 32l behind Ultragold (10-8) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Noble Legend 9-2 (11-12) Led, went right 4 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, no chance with winner before the last, kept on to hold 2nd, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Shuil Royale (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Sands Cove (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace in 5th, weakening when not fluent 7th, soon behind, went poor 4th near finish, 4th of 6, 31l behind Pearls Legend (11-8) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Viva Steve (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Prominent, mistake 6th, reminder 11th, not fluent 12th, ridden 13th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Somchine (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Midnight Cataria 8-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 1st, headway approaching 12th, ridden and lost place before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 11, well behind The Ould Lad (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
Arthur's Oak 11-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, headed next, led before 3 out, headed flat, one pace, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Pearls Legend (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Town Mouse 22-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, in touch 11th, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Rhapando (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Saddlers Deal (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Close up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 12l behind Mister Wiseman (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
