took keen hold, chased leader, led after 4 out, joined and carried head high when hit 3 out, blundered and headed 2 out, outpaced before last, kept on agan flat, went 4th close home
in touch in 5th, headway to chase leaders 5th, went 2nd after 4 out, challenged and hit 3 out, every chance when hit last, no extra flat, lost 3rd final 100 yards, weakened to 5th close home
chased leading pair, every chance when not fluent 3 out, chased leaders, stayed on under prerssure to take 3rd final 100 yards
led, headed after 4 out, soon lost 2nd and weakened rapidly, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, challenged 2 out, edged right and led last, stayed on flat
mistake 2nd, always in reat, tailed off 4 out
chased leaders, lost place 5th, pushed along and struggling after 4 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, never involved
held up towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, soon ridden and no progress
hedl up towards rear, moderate effort before 3 out, soon weakened, eased before 2 out, pulled up before last
Red Skipper returns from nearly a year's absence and Kempton winner Islandmagee has something to prove off his current mark but Della Sun should go well again after scoring at Chepstow. Candelita advertised her claims with a close-up second over course and distance earlier this month but another chance goes to LADIES DANCING. He was beaten less than a length by Sir Fredlot when third at Stratford off today's mark having won at Huntingdon earlier and can return to winning ways in this. Irish raider El Gran Torino is worth a second glance in the betting with Richard Johnson on board.
Red Skipper (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 5th, ridden 2 out, 4th and beaten when hit last, weakened flat, 5th of 17, 8l behind Native Gallery (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Lemon Drop Red (USA) 10-1 (11-2) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway to chase leading trio 2 out, driven and no impression in 5th between last 2, left 4th and hampered last, dropped to 5th close home, 5th of 12, 12l behind General Ting (10-3) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Ladies Dancing 13-2 (11-9) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden before last, soon went 2nd, kept on and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Sir Fredlot (11-4) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
King Zeal (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, no impression, 8th of 10, 22l behind Pearls Legend (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Scoglio 25-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, 50l behind Pearls Legend (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Islandmagee (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up in last, jumped slowly 2nd, mistake 4th, headway and in touch after 3 out, outpaced from next, 4th of 6, 13l behind In The Crowd (10-2) at Wincanton 2m Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) gs in Feb.
Della Sun (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, went 2nd last, stayed on to lead final 140 yards, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf beating Buckhorn Tom (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Candelita 14-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in rear, staying on when not fluent 2 out, went 3rd last, stayed on to take 2nd flat, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Phase Shift (11-10) at Ludlow 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gd.
Early Applause 20-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistake 4th, soon struggling, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Supreme Asset (11-8) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Aviso (GER) 50-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, mistake 3 out, last of 9, well behind Canadian Diamond (11-8) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
El Gran Torino (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division for most, ridden in 8th before straight, no extra, 8th of 12, 49l behind Rafi De Triana (10-2) at Cork 2m hcp hdl 80-102 hvy in Mar.
Gracchus (USA) 25-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place after 6th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Claret Cloak (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd, 11 ran.
