held up towards rear, pecked slightly 1st, not fluent 3rdm headway 10th, 3rd before 2 out, no impression, one pace
in rear, ridden 13th, well beaten from 4 out
led until 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
pressed leader, led 7th, stayed on well, clear towards finish
held up, slow 2nd and 5th, not fluent 9th, mistake 11th, well beaten 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 8th and 9th, 4th and weakening 2 out
tracked leaders, pecked slightly 1st, went 2nd before 10th, pressing winner approaching 2 out, no impression flat
held up, headway on outside before 12th, blundered 3 out, soon weakened
King Spirit and Under The Phone both have lengthy absences to overcome but Kincora Fort won at Leicester last last month on only his second start over fences. Vivaccio is starting to slip down the handicap and certainly has the past form to figure in a race like this. Must Havea Flutter makes a quick reappearance under a penalty after winning easily at Market Rasen on Sunday and has every chance of following up but we’ll give another chance to BAD BOY DU POULDU. Gary Moore’s novice was unsettled by an early blunder at Kempton on Boxing Day and eventually pulled up but he would have every chance on earlier efforts at Kempton and Southwell.
Vivaccio (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders on outside, 2nd before 6th until 8th, struggling 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 13 3/4l behind Big Jim (10-13) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Bad Boy Du Pouldu (FR) 10-1 (10-3) Tracked winner to 8th, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
King Spirit (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Led to 3rd, remained close up, led again before 3 out, headed after 2 out, kept on same pace last, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Brick Red (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 1f (3) hvy in Jan.
Kincora Fort (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Prominent, led 11th, pressed last, stayed on well, in command towards finish, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating The Bay Birch (10-4) by 2l, 9 ran.
Old Salt (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Towards rear, ridden 10th, headway 3 out, disputing 3rd last, one pace, 4th of 9, 11 3/4l behind Hey Bill (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Wandrin Star (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Jumped left, led, not fluent 2nd, headed 3 out, weakened last, 7th of 9, 22 3/4l behind Hey Bill (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Must Havea Flutter (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, closed up 7th, went 2nd and poised to challenge before 3 out, led before next, clear last, driven out, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Dartford Warbler (11-0) by 10l, 10 ran.
Under The Phone (IRE) 5-2 (10-13) Tracked leader until hit 9th and reminder, ridden and struggling after 15th, left modest 3rd 4 out, 3rd of 5, at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
