held up in rear, ridden 7th, well behind 3 out, pulled up before next
led, headed after 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 1st, pushed along after 6th, headway 3 out, soon outpaced, remote 5th when jumped left and slowly 2 out
tracked leader until mistake 5th, challenged 3 out, 3rd when jumped right 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, hit 7th, led after 3 out, joined last, soon headed, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders on inside, not much room and lost place after 3rd, closed before 6th, 2nd before 2 out, challenged last, soon led, driven out, clear towards finish
tracked leaders, 2nd from 5th, led after 7th until after 3 out, hampered 2 out, soon weakened
in rear and soon niggled along, not fluent 3rd, well beaten from 7th
The Bottom Bar was second in a bumper here last May and filled the same position behind a useful novice on his hurdling debut at Towcester in December. Despite a break, Nicky Henderson’s charge will be fancied to go one better today but this is more competitive than first appears. Quest For Life has been pretty consistent but his one poor run came over this longer trip at Wetherby in January. MIDNIGHT CHILL was pulled up last time in a Grade 3 handicap at Sandown but that was a fate he shared with several others. He’d raced prominently for a long way and may benefit here from less aggressive tactics as an earlier second at Huntingdon was probably decent form. Ataguiseamix ran no sort of race at Exeter in December and looks a tricky ride while Cloone Lady is held by the selection on collateral form.
Ataguiseamix (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 2nd, bumped 4th, struggling after next, behind 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Exeter 2m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
Balkato Des Bois (FR) 8-1 (12-0) (h) led; lft clr 10; fell 2 out, at Cottenham 2m 4f mdn gd in Feb.
Braddan Head 16-1 (11-2) In touch, pushed along over 4f out, soon lost place, 7th of 9, 19 3/4l behind Daydream Aulmes (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (5) gs in Feb.
Midnight Chill 33-1 (10-9) Led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost place before 2 out, well behind when pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Quest For Life 10-3 (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Final Choice (11-10) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
The Bottom Bar (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) In touch, progress 3 out, effort next, stayed on after last to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Al Shahir (11-6) at Towcester 2m mdn (5) gs in Dec.
Windshear 25-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 12th of 17, dist behind Flashjack (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Cloone Lady (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 8, 26l behind Knockrobin (11-1) at Bangor 2m 4f (4) sft in Mar.
