mid-division, headway on outside before 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, plugging on when fell heavily 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway on inside 3 out, 2nd 2 out, led last, clear when edged right and driven run-in, eased close home
took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along before 3 out, already lost place and struggling when badly hampered 2 out, eased
chased leader until pushed along before 3 out, already weakening when hampered next
led, pushed along before 2 out, headed just before the last, driven and not pace of winner run-in, soon lost 2nd and lost 3rd towards finish
held up towards rear, headway on inside before 2 out, chasing leaders when not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, driven and stayed on again run-in pressing for places but no chance with winner
held up in rear, no impression when hung left before 2 out
held up towards raer, headway 3 out, chasing leaders approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure into 2nd final 150 yards, no chance with winner
pushed along and struggling after 4 out, always towards rear
tracked leaders in 5th on inside, mistake 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, ridden and weakened sooon after
tracked leading pair, 2nd before 3 out until 2 out, chased leaders, driven and kept on run-in, went 3rd towards finish and pressing for 2nd but no chance with winner
Gassin Golf again ran well in the Imperial Cup two weeks ago but he remains difficult to place and a new career-high mark isn't going to help. Parsnip Pete will be warming up for another trip to Aintree but stable companion BABY KING should go well. Lightly-raced, he's weighted to reverse recent course and distance running with the more-exposed Royal Guardsman and is preferred to Red Merlin and veteran Chesil Beach Boy. Willem was pulled up on his UK debut but should be capable of better and Minella Present is starting to come down the weights, though was pulled up when Sea Wall finished fourth at Ascot. Lough Kent has finished last in two starts since finishing fourth at Cheltenham.
Parsnip Pete 20-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace in 5th, outpaced 4 out, no chance after, last of 7, 43l behind Mr Mole (11-4) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Red Merlin (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, hampered 5th, closed 2 out, no impression, no extra last, 6th of 9, 15l behind Hawk High (11-10) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Gassin Golf 25-1 (10-8) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway after 3 out, chase leading pair before 2 out, one pace when not fluent last, stayed on run-in, 3rd of 23, 1l behind Ebony Express (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs.
Minella Present (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Took keen hold, chased winner, not fluent 4th, no impression when lost 2nd after 3 out and dropped to 4th, beaten before mistake next, eased and pulled up before the last, in a race won by Unique De Cotte (10-3) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Royal Guardsman (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Always prominent, upsides 3 out, driven to lead between last 2, ridden and kept on flat, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Feb beating Kiama Bay (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Willem (FR) 6-1 (10-4) Last trio, struggling in rear 4 out, tailed off and eased after next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Baradari (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan, 8 ran.
Baby King (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Jumped big and pecked 1st, held up in touch in rear, smooth headway 3 out, in touch towards stands side rail 2 out, every chance last, ridden and one pace in 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Royal Guardsman (10-13) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Chesil Beach Boy 14-1 (11-5) In rear, behind after 3rd, headway on outside 3 out, hit 2 out, never on terms, no impression, 6th of 13, 11l behind Ascendant (11-5) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Lough Kent 6-1 (10-7) Chased leading pair, driven and weakened after 3 out, tailed off, last of 6, 28l behind Fox Norton (11-7) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Halling's Wish 6-1 (11-6) In rear, headway after 3 out, ridden before last, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 27l behind Lightentertainment (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Desert Recluse (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Tracking leaders on outside 2nd, close up 5th, outpaced and lost place before 3 out, plugged on from next, 5th of 13, 10l behind Ascendant (11-5) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
