held up in touch on outside, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, not fluent next, 3rd when switched inside between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression from last
tracked leaders on inside, mistake 3 out, soon outpaced and behind
keen early, tracked leaders, challenged after 4 out, driven and lost place approaching 2 out, no impression in 4th before last
made virtually all, driven and hard pressed from 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely under pressure flat, found extra near finish
held up behind in touch, chased leaders 3 out, one pace when hit next, never on terms
tracked winner, lost place 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, challenged next, soon ridden, kept on and every chance flat, no extra and held near finish
A tricky finale as most have some sort of chance, though Orangeday was tailed off when tried in this grade at Cheltenham and Regulation might not enjoy the soft going. Café Au Lait will as he won on heavy ground at Towcester last month and he's preferred to the returning Dawn Twister and Valid Reason, who's never really progressed as expected. THEREGOESTHETRUTH was the subject of a gamble here last week and didn't disappoint. She may be capable of defying her penalty and gets the vote ahead of the unexposed Brownville.
Orangeaday 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, struggling after 4 out, 18th of 20, well behind Unique De Cotte (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Dawn Twister (GER) 11-2 (10-5) Raced wide, tracked leaders, hit 4th, challenged 6th, ridden after next, soon outpaced, no impression from 3 out, 5th of 6, 20l behind Prideofthecastle (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Valid Reason 15-2 (11-3) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 11, 24l behind Exitas (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Brownville 8-1 (10-9) Led, slowed into 1st, not fluent 8th, headed 3 out, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Mister Fizz (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Regulation (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, 4th and one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 8l behind El Namoose (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cafe Au Lait (GER) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders on outside, challenged after 7th, led before 2 out, held on gamely, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov beating Phoenix Returns (11-9) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Theregoesthetruth (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, drew clear run-in, won at Leicester 2m 4f (4) sft beating Boherna Lady (11-7) by 9l, 9 ran.
