with leader, led 2nd, headed before next, hanging left on bend after 5th, went left, very awkward and rider nearly off 6th, eased and pulled up before next
chased leaders on outside, jumped big and slow 2nd, not fluent 5th, soon ridden, mistake 6th, losing pace when mistake 7th, behind after, pulled up before 3 out
led until 2nd, led before next, headed after 4 out, disputing 3rd when lost action and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, challenged 7th, led after 4 out, clear 2 out, hanging left flat, stayed on well, comfortably
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, one pace
held up, headway before 7th, went 2nd before 3 out until 2 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway before next, lost place 8th, left remote 4th before 3 out
The four-year-old Fixed Rate has a penalty for a narrow win in a handicap at Kempton in April. Take To Heart was easy to back at Ascot on his hurdling debut and ran accordingly. But he should be capable of better and makes more appeal than Crucial Role. Monkey Puzzle was only headed at the last at Doncaster on his first run over timber and looks a sure-fire future winner but could be up against a decent recruit here in ROBIN THE RAVEN (NAP). Kim Bailey’s five-year-old was thought good enough to run in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and is a full brother to a well-regarded Willie Mullins’ novice who won by six lengths on his hurdling introduction at Tipperary last month.
Crucial Role 3-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led over 10f out, headed 6f out, weakened 3f out, 4th of 5, 25l behind Whatswrongwithyou (11-0) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Fernando (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) (tt) led til hdd 2 out; wknd app last, 3rd of 5, 8 1/4l behind Sizing America (12-0) at Eyton-on-severn 3m gf in May.
Monkey Puzzle 3-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, good headway before 3 out, soon tracking leader, led 2 out, went right and narrowly headed last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Just Milly (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec.
Robin The Raven (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place over 3f out, soon behind, 16th of 22, 22 1/4l behind Fayonagh (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Take To Heart 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders and wide, went 2nd after 6th until after 3 out, chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 8th of 11, 21 1/4l behind Tales Of The Tweed (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Fixed Rate 9-1 (10-7) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, soon one pace, no impression after, 6th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Call Me Lord (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Mole Trap 50-1 (10-10) Led or disputed lead until 6th, weakened before 3 out, last of 6, dist behind Miss Spent (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov.
