held up in touch, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, headway from 11th, challenged 2 out, led when jumped left last, ridden and hung right flat, headed close home
prominent, challenged 6th, blundered 12th, soon lost place, weakened 14th, pulled up before 4 out
led, headed before 3 out, no extra flat
held up on outside, jumped slightly left, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, 5th and weakening when pulled up before last
held up in touch, pecked 1st, challenged 13th, led before 3 out, ridden and edged left approaching 2 out, hung left before last, soon headed, stayed on under strong pressure to lead again close home
held up in touch, close 3rd when mistake 12th, outpaced 4 out, rallied last, stayed on well flat, went 2nd close home, just held
prominent until 7th, pushed along after next, driven and losing touch after 9th, behind 13th, soon pulled up
Current Exchange was only beaten a length by Ockey De Neulliac at Haydock last month in a race in which What A Laugh finished fifth. He has every chance of going one better, though Little Legend is on an upward curve and may appreciate going right-handed after edging that way at his fences when scoring at Warwick. Island Life was second on his reappearance at Ludlow, though beaten 34 lengths. BENEDICTUS won three times under Rules last year and was just caught by Powerfulpaddy in a hot-looking point-to-point at Dromahane in December. The pair were clear of the third and he could be the class act in this.
Benedictus (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Mid div & ww, 7th 5out, prog in 3rd 2out, chall when faster jump last & ld brfly early flat, hdd & no ex final 50 yards, 2nd of 15, nk behind Powerfulpaddy (12-2) at Dromahane 3m ire ptp sft in Dec.
Island Life (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Prominent, outpaced 13th, 4th and beaten 5 out, plugged on to take remote 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 34l behind Qrackers (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hts chs (5) sft in Feb.
Little Legend 11-10fav (11-13) Made all, often jumped right, ridden clear flat, stayed on gamely, won at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) sft in Jan beating Loose Preformer (11-11) by 5l, 6 ran.
What A Laugh 15-2 (12-4) Towards rear, headway and blundered 10th, chased winner 3 out, weakened and lost 3 places towards finish, 5th of 13, 17l behind Ockey De Neulliac (11-12) at Haydock 3m 1f hts chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Current Exchange (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, chased winner from 11th until 3 out, regained 2nd run-in, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Ockey De Neulliac (11-12) at Haydock 3m 1f hts chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Court Red Handed (IRE) 25-1 (12-7) (tt) hdwy 8; led 2 out; stayed on wl, won at South Wold 3m ptp gs in Feb beating My Old Piano (12-7) by 4l, 10 ran.
Lady Myfanwy 12-1 (10-13) Soon struggling in rear, lost touch and pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Michigan Assassin (11-5) at Ffos Las 3m hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Aug, 10 ran.
How's My Friend 16-1 (11-0) Ur 3, in a race won by Aikideau (11-0) at Countryside Alliance Club (Wesse 3m ptp gd in Feb, 10 ran.
