chased clear leading pair, closed 10th, went 2nd next, led 12th, joined 2 out, soon asserted, stayed on well, driven out
pressed leader and clear of rest, bumped 3rd, lost 2nd at 11th, driven in 4th before 3 out, stayed on to 2nd again flat, no impression on winner
chased leaders, outpaced in 5th pace and driven 11th, stayed on to modest 4th 3 out, blundered last
raced wide, held up, hit 4th, towards rear when blundered 9th, struggling after, pulled up after 10th
took keen hold, held up towards rear, good headway to close 4th at 9th, went 2nd 12th, challenged 3 out, upsides winner and every chance when mistake next, soon held, weakened to 3rd flat
towards rear, mistake 11th, ridden in modest 6th when hit 3 out, no impression
in touch in chasing group, lost place before 10th, behind and pulled up before next
tended to jump right, led at good pace with one other and clear of rest, reduced lead when headed 12th, weakened 4 out,
behind, struggling when pulled up before 11th
in touch in chasing group, mistake 6th, never on terms, driven in poor 7th when blundered 2 out, tailed off
Diamond Eclipse has shown more than enough to suggest he can win at this level but, along with Nomad and the one-paced Captain Becket, he returns from a lengthy absence here. MALIN HEAD found softer ground and a longer trip against him at Towcester last time and was pulled up. But he did win over this distance at Folkestone in January and his attacking style could have a few of these in trouble at an early stage. Bob Buckler's gelding is taken to bounce back to winning ways with the consistent Pacha D'Oudaires probably the pick of the remainder.
Ladyvie (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 1st, jumped right next, headway 4th, outpaced before 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, 5th of 10, 15l behind Dirty Deal (11-10) at Chepstow 2m Mares Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (4yo+) (5) hvy in Jan.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Chased leader until 9th, prominent, led 14th, joined 3 out, headed soon after, no chance with winner, weakened to 3rd and mistake last, 3rd of 12, 28l behind Huckleberry (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
On The Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 3rd until next, led after 10th until before 11th, ridden after 14th, soon beaten, no impression on leaders when jumped left 2 out, 5th of 8, 20l behind Thomas Wild (11-2) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Solitary Palm (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, effort 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Magic Marmalade (11-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Diamond Eclipse (IRE) 5-4fav (10-7) Held up, pushed long after 11th, went modest 3rd 3 out, left poor 2nd and mistake last, 2nd of 4, well behind Spock (11-12) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up, not fluent 12th, headway 4 out, mistake 3 out, went 4th after 2 out, no impression, 4th of 10, 18l behind Baltic Pathfinder (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Captain Becket 14-1 (10-12) Behind, struggling 8th, soon beaten pulled up 13th, in a race won by Miss Fleur (10-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Malin Head (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Made most, ridden and headed 14th, chased leaders, wekaened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Huckleberry (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar, 12 ran.
Nomad (FR) 12-1 (10-4) Held up, left 2nd 3rd, challenged 8th, left in lead 10th, clear after 3 out, stayed on, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Nov beating Kirbys Glen (11-10) by 10l, 5 ran.
Bob Casey (IRE) 5-2fav (10-1) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, lost place after 8th, struggling 10th, weakened 5 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 33l behind Rash Moment (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.
