chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, 4th and beaten before last, plugged on
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, ridden and weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, pushed along after 5th, stayed on from 3 out, went 3rd towards finish, no impression on front pair
prominent, ridden before 3 out, lost place 2 out
held up in mid-division, pushed along on outside after 5th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, soon close up, about 1 length down last, hung left flat, led inside final 100 yards, stayed on well
led until 3 out, weakened from last, weakened into 4th flat
chased leaders, brought stands side and led 3 out, about 1 length ahead when untidy last, headed inside final 100 yards, held towards finish
soon close up on outside, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, mistake last
Madiba Passion will be all the better for last month’s third at Wincanton. Mark Of Gold has been progressing nicely around Plumpton but PUNCTUATION (NAP) finally came good in striking fashion at Warwick and he could still be nicely treated, despite an 11lb rise. Flinteur Sacre looks held on that run but Pearly Island is improving fast and could be a danger on his handicap debut. Irish Hill started favourite at Ascot after winning at Taunton but beat only one home and the Nicholls four-year-old looks vulnerable again here against more-experienced rivals.
Mark Of Gold 1-6fav (11-7) Jumped slightly left, made all, came easily clear before 2 out, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m stks (4) sft in Feb beating Torbellino (10-7) by 16l, 8 ran.
Sherborne (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, 4th and beaten last, weakened flat, 8th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Storm Dennis (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Pearly Island 9-1 (11-6) Raced keenly and jumped left, led after 1st until 2nd, stayed handy, not fluent 6th, slightly outpaced after 2 out, rallied to go 2nd after last, pressing winner when not much room against rail inside final 100 yards, held towards finish, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Gamaret (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) gs in Feb.
John Betjeman 3-1fav (11-12) Prominent, not fluent 4th or 5th, pushed along and led before 2 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, no extra after last, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Gamesters Icon (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Madiba Passion (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Midfield, bad mistake 2nd, headway to chase leaders 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden after last, kept on flat, 3rd of 11, 8 1/2l behind Frere D'armes (11-8) at Wincanton 1m 7f (3) gs in Feb.
Punctuation 15-8fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, wide and headway 3 out, chased leader 2 out, led next, soon clear, eased close home, comfortable, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Sainte Doctor (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Flinteur Sacre (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Towards rear, pushed along 3 out, some late headway, not trouble leaders, 6th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Punctuation (10-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Irish Hill (GER) 7-4fav (11-4) Pressed leader, hit 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd turning in, no extra in 3rd, ridden and beaten between last two, 3rd of 4, 31l behind Doctor Parnassus (10-12) at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Fred Bear (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) Tracked leader over 5f, chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, plugged on final furlong, went modest 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 5 1/2l behind Smart Boyo (8-7) at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
