mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5th, weakened well before 2 out, tailed off
took keen hold in mid-division, towards rear when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway before 2 out, kept on well flat, almost snatched well held 3rd
wide in touch, headway to chase leaders 4th, pushed along 6th, weakened after next, tailed off
behind, headway 5th, chasing leaders when fell 3 out
chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, behind when hampered next, tailed off
chased leaders, left chasing winner 2 out, held when hit last kept on flat, always held
keen, in touch, not fluent 3rd and next, dropped to rear 5th, tailed off
behind, headway into midfield 6th, ridden before 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off
behind, good headway 6th, chased winner after 3 out, disputing 2 lengths down in 2nd when fell 2 out
mid-division, weakened under pressure 3 out
led until 3 out, no impression before next
mistake 2nd, chased leader, led 3 out, kept on well from 2 out, readily
In a tight race PREUTY BOY is narrowly preferred to Benartic and Bescot Springs but there are a host of horses in with a shout of taking home first prize. Alan Fleming and Timmy Murphy are always worthy of respect when combining and they did so to good effect last time our pick ran. The gelding is up 5lbs for winning at Plumpton but the right horses filled the places and a few arrived there unexposed, so it could prove to be a solid bit of form and the handicapper may have been kind in his reaction. This ground looks ideal and he's capable of progressing further. Benartic would look to have enough weight on a line through his conqueror last time but the 7lb claims of David Bass gets the horse a place on our shortlist as he's a rider with a future. Nicky Henderson's charge hasn't yet been out of the first three in five visits to the racecourse and is at home under these conditions as a son of Beneficial. Bescot Springs beat a previous winner last time and looks fairly treated under a penalty, especially as his bumper second to Peddlers Cross suggests there should be a great deal left to come. Perhaps that first win last time will pave the way for more success but the quicker ground asks a new question of Phillip Hobbs' horse and we're prepared to take him on. Bob Run likes this ground and has claims despite being bumped up the ratings in defeat, as does Share Option although both may have to settle for minor honours. Vacario has a talented claimer aboard and that will help him run a solid race, Firm Order is another with claims and it'll be interesting to see how Zazamix goes in the market but we'll stick with his stablemate Preuty Boy.
Benartic (IRE) 7-4 (11-1) Tracked winner, not fluent 3rd, challenging on bend before 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Secret Stash (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Zazamix (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Held up, ridden 4th, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 37l behind Lush Life (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Mar.
Tribe 28-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 13, 46l behind Quinz (10-10) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Preuty Boy (FR) 4-1fav (10-13) Raced wide, close up, tracked leader from 5th, driven to narrow lead and mistake 2 out, strongly pressed when left with 1 length advantage last, stayed on well flat, won at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb beating Samurai Way (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bob Run (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, chased winner between last 2, one pace, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Wise Men Say (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Vacario (GER) 12-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway from 2 out, one pace, 4th of 14, 8l behind Robo (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f 4yo nov stks (4) gd in Dec.
Ostland (GER) 15-2 (11-10) In touch outpaced 3 out, no impression from next, 7th of 15, 14l behind Akarshan (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Quizwork (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced before next, stayed on same pace flat to take 3rd post, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Bai Zhu (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Firm Order (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Prominent, jumped right 1st, left 2nd 7th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Peveril (11-11) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Share Option 13-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 7th, stayed on under pressure to chase winner last, no impression, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Willandrich (9-13) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Bescot Springs (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) In touch, chased leader from 7th, led approaching 3 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) sft beating Prescelli (11-1) by 7l, 5 ran.
Wun Chai (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Led until after 5th, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind English City (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Jul.
Corker 9-2 (10-6) Raced on inside, close up until outpaced 7th, weakened before 9th, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Preuty Boy (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Ede's 7-1 (10-5) Held up, not fluent, struggling 9th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Porta Vogie (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Stripe Me Blue 15-2 (9-10) Tracked leader, led 5th to after next, in touch, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 19l behind Mith Hill (10-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
