in touch, ridden when hit 3 out and soon weakened
held up in rear, driven approaching 3 out, headway when hit 2 out, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd last
chased leaders, hit 3 out and weakened quickly before next
in touch, chased winner from 3 out, ridden and no impression between last 2, kept on clear 2nd
jumped left, made virtually all, clear between last 2, kept on strongly
always behind, jumped slowly 3rd, well behind from 5th
took keen hold, soon chased winner to 3 out, stayed chasing leaders in 3rd, no impression when hit last
in touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, driven approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders when hit 2 out, weakened into disputing 5th when fell heavily last
behind, ridden approaching 3 out, never dangerous
held up in mid-division, steady headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders under pressure before next, soon weakened
always behind, ridden and struggling after 4 out, tailed off
Bureaucrat is given another chance to come good, with Daraybad, Backbord and Le Corvee all seen as potential dangers. Bureaucrat threw away a winning opportunity on his debut over hurdles at Ludlow in January, as he was six lengths clear when falling at the last. Backed to make amends at Market Rasen next time, the Philip Hobbs inmate managed to get round but found one too good in Slew Charm, and must surely make his presence felt here. He meets some useful opponents including Daraybad who lines up instead of his highly thought of stablemate Jack The Giant, and he should prove an able deputy without quite being up to the task based on his Fakenham effort. maybe he found the track too sharp, so we shall see if he fares better round here. Backbord was third to Jack The Giant at Market Rasen so Nicky Henderson should at least know what is required to beat Lucy Wadham's challenger. A longer trip would benefit the latter, while of the rest, Le Corvee makes some appeal, having finished fourth to Fair Along in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham last time. Henderson's Afsoun was second that day, so again the Seven Barrows trainer will have a line to work on. However, we shall still pin our hopes on Bureaucrat in the belief that there is more to come.
Le Corvee (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, went 3rd after 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 13, 15l behind Fair Along (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 5-2 (10-9) Mid-division, headway after 3rd, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Fast Forward (11-4) by 9l, 11 ran.
Quasimodo (GB) 33-1 (11-3) Led to 2nd, stayed tracking leader, ridden after 6th, soon lost place and behind, 7th of 9, 42l behind Detroit City (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
Backbord (GER) 9-2 (10-12) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, no impression, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Jack The Giant (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Bureaucrat 4-6fav (10-12) Led after 1st, headed approaching last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Slew Charm (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Carpet Ride 80-1 (8-7) Led until headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 8l behind Danger Zone (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb (Flat).
Daraybad (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, faded approaching 2 out, placed 4th, 4th of 13, 16l behind Bayard (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jan.
Jubilee Dream 28-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, in touch, ridden before 3 out, no chance when hit next, 4th of 11, 20l behind Heathcote (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Krasivi's Boy (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Always behind, struggling from 6th, 7th of 11, well behind Flaming Weapon (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gs in Oct.
Mac Federal (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon narrow lead, ridden and narrowly headed when fell heavily last fell at the last in race won by Heathcote (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Patronage 28-1 (10-10) Behind brought down 3 out in race won by Linnet (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Feb, 18 ran.
Sea Wall 11-2 (9-0) Soon led, quicken pace over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, one pace after, 4th of 10, 8l behind Tawqeet (9-0) at York 1m 6f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Aug (Flat).
Suivez Moi (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 16, 10l behind Mineko (8-9) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
