pressed leader until pushed along and no impression after 15th, lost 2nd before 3 out (normal 4 out), weakened and lost 3rd bypassing omitted 2 out, finished tired, tailed off
led until approaching 3rd, chased leaders, struggling 11th, ridden and weakened soon after 13th, tailed off
tracking leaders, hit 9th, blundered and unseated rider 12th
chased leaders, led approaching 3rd, went left and stumbled 14th, clear after next, reduced lead bypassing omitted 3 out, headed before last, kept on same pace flat
held up, reminders after 10th (water), left 3rd at 12th, driven along and went 6 lengths 2nd before 3 out (normal 4 out), closed bypassing omitted 3 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on strongly run in
held up, not fluent 6th, went 4th at 14th, 3rd bypassing omitted 3 out, no chance with leading duo, lost 3rd run in
in rear, no impression in 5th when went right 3 out (normal 4 out), plugged on to 4th approaching last, went 3rd run in, never any chance with leading duo
Pigeon Island won one of these veterans' handicaps at Ascot last year and was second in another at Aintree. The grey is starting to look well treated again. Pete The Feat is a course and distance winner but has become a little hard to predict. Master Overseer is even more of an enigma but stays well and makes more appeal than Burton Port, who looks a light of former days. Neither Summery Justice nor Tullamore Dew can be ignored but CARRUTHERS ran a cracker in a Grade 3 at Warwick on his reappearance. A repeat of that effort from the top weight would probably suffice and Nico De Boinville takes off 5lb again.
Carruthers 28-1 (11-7) Prominent, pecked 5th, soon led, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Shotgun Paddy (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Master Overseer (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) In touch, lost place before 6th, behind 11th, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Shotgun Paddy (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, hit 1st, jumped left 3rd, lost place and pushed along after 12th, behind when pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Relax (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb, 10 ran.
Burton Port (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 10th, never dangerous, 8th of 10, 13l behind Tranquil Sea (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb.
Summery Justice (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Raced wide and held up in last pair, headway 3rd, not fluent 8th, mistake 11th, losing place when not fluent 13th, left in 5th 3 out, driven into 4th after 2 out, kept on from last, not pace to chalenge, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Triangular (10-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Feb.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 3rd, headed 8th, not fluent and lost place 15th, 4th and beaten 3 out, 5th of 7, 14l behind Restless Harry (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
Pigeon Island 66-1 (11-4) Held up behind, ridden and outpaced on long run before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 7, well behind The Giant Bolster (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
