held up in touch, headway 4 out, outpaced in 3rd after next, soon ridden, no chance with front pair from 2 out
made all, joined 2 out, hard driven between last 2, ridden and held on well under pressure flat
held up in touch, headway to track winner 4 out, challenged 2 out, ridden between last 2, kept on and every chance flat, held towards finish
tracked winner on outside, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off 2 out
tracked leaders on inside, lost place after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, effort on outside 4 out, 4th and outpaced after next, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, tailed off
Eduard continued his upward curve with an easy win at Carlisle last month where Gymdoli finished well off the pace. The former should be in the mix along with Only Orsenfoolsies, another progressive sort who won a decent novice event at Haydock on his latest start. Lucinda Russell has won the last two renewals so an improved effort from Ballyben won't come as a surprise but it could pay to stick with the proven form of BRICK RED. He found only County Hurdle entry Forgotten Voice too good in a similar Grade 2 event at Kempton last Saturday and had Mwaleshi well behind when scoring at Musselburgh before that.
Brick Red 15-8fav (11-9) Led at steady pace, quickened appraching 2 out, hit 2 out, headed and outpaced last, no chance with easy winner, kept on well for 2nd, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Forgotten Voice (11-6) at Kempton 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Feb.
Mwaleshi 7-1 (11-3) Led, headed before 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 10, 11l behind Brick Red (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Eduard (IRE) 1-8fav (11-10) Prominent, led after 3 out, clear before next, hard held, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Basford Ben (11-3) by 29l, 9 ran.
Gymdoli 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 9, 34l behind Eduard (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Ballyben (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) In touch, outpaced before 4th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 19l behind Broadway Buffalo (11-3) at Newcastle 2m NH mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Only Orsenfoolsies 10-1 (11-3) In touch in 4th, went 3rd from 3rd, ridden before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating Zamdy Man (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
