held up in 5th on inside, closer in 3rd after 11th, stayed on same pace from after 4 out, no chance with leading duo
never travelled or jumped with any fluency in last pair, in rear when jumped slowly 7th and next, never on terms until finally picked up went 4th run-in and closed on 3rd, no chance with leading duo
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, fell 10th
held up in last pair, closer in 4th place 5 out, disputing 3rd 3 out, ridden and no extra in 4th next, weakened
raced wide in close 3rd, went 2nd 11th, led 4 out, joined last, hung left and strongly pressed run-in, stayed on gamely, all out
jumped well, led until narrowly headed 4 out, chased winner, upsides at the last, ridden and strong challenge run-in, held final 100 yards, rallied close home, just held
chased leader until 11th, chased leaders, lost place and outpaced 5 out, no chance after
The Big Bite hasn’t shown much in two runs this season but the application of cheekpieces could spark some improvement. Espoir De Guye also arrives out of sorts but Sebastopol is proving a useful sort when the going is good or quicker and PAINT THE DREAM won by 14 lengths over course and distance the last time he ran in a handicap. He is 3-4 around here and Zanza is even more of a course specialist and won the Denman here three weeks ago but probably needs a bit further nowadays. Lord Baddesley faces a tough task for a novice but is improving, as is Gemirande.
Paint The Dream 3-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd before 8th, ridden well held and no chance with winner when mistake and lost 2nd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 19 1/4l behind Pic D'Orhy (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Zanza (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Patiently ridden in last pair, pushed along and hit 9th, steady headway out wide 13th, chased leaders 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, led and bit awkward 2 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Feb beating Hitman (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Sebastopol (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Chased leader, not fluent 9th, challenged from 4 out, led run-in, ridden clear, won at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov beating Stage Star (11-4) by 5l, 4 ran.
Espoir De Guye (FR) 11-1 (12-2) Held up rear of mid-division, never threatened, well beaten after 3 out, 8th of 13, dist behind Your Darling (10-6) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
The Big Bite (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Towards rear, pushed along home turn, no progress and weakened 2 out, 8th of 12, 28 3/4l behind Fugitif (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Gemirande (FR) 9-4 (10-9) Made all, jumped well, shaken up after 2 out, stayed on strongly, readily, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Feb beating War Lord (12-0) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Lord Baddesley (IRE) 11-10fav (12-0) Chased leader, led before 3rd, came clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Gloire D'Athon (12-0) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
