raced keenly, held up in 6th on inside, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened approaching next
took keen hold, held up in 7th, closer after 3rd, tracked leaders before 3 out, 2nd going well before 2 out, led between last 2, clear before last, stayed on strongly
held up in 5th, closer in 3rd 2 out, plugged on same pace, no chance with leading duo
behind, pushed along and struggling in 7th after 3 out, never on terms
raced keenly, led and soon clear, stumbled and fell on flat after 3rd
tracked clear leader, left in lead 3rd, hit next, headed before and weakening when blundered 2 out
tracked leading trio, went 3rd when left in 2nd place at 3rd, led before 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
mistakes, well in rear, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, tailed off when blundered 5th, pulled up before next
raced in 3rd place until 3rd, where left 3rd again, pushed along on outside before 2 out, weakened between last 2
PRECIOUS CARGO will likely be a short-priced favourite to win this for the fourth time in 10 years. He beat Extra Mag, a leading fancy for tomorrow’s Imperial Cup, on his first start for the champion trainer and hurdling debut at Kempton and further improvement can almost be taken for granted. Jimmy The Digger is jumps-bred so the Ludlow bumper winner is an interesting recruit but French import Episode is best watched on his UK debut. Melchior King won a maiden at Chepstow in January but ran no sort of race in a handicap on that track last month.
Melchior King (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leader until before 2nd, soon lost place, behind 5th, tailed off before 3 out, pulled up after, at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Precious Cargo (IRE) 6-4jfav (11-0) Restrained in rear, closer in mid-division before 3rd, chased leaders travelling well before 4 out, led on long run before 2 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Extra Mag (11-7) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
Granitic (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, some headway before 3 out, soon beaten, 10th of 18, dist behind Greaneteen (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Harry Hazard 125-1 (11-2) Held up and behind, some headway on wide outside chasing leaders before 5th, weakened quickly soon after, 7th of 12, 33l behind Pentland Hills (10-7) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) gd in Feb.
Jimmy The Digger 10-11fav (11-0) With leader, led 3f out, clear over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 1m 6f (4) sft in Dec beating Finnick Glory (10-7) by 6l, 9 ran.
Sunday At Augusta (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, tailed off when blundered 2 out, never on terms, 8th of 11, dist behind Precious Cargo (11-0) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Rose Sea Has (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Led, headed before 2 out, weakened soon after, 8th of 12, 28 3/4l behind Fusil Raffles (10-12) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Champagne Poppy (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden 6f out, lost place 5f out, 15th of 17, dist behind Umndeni (10-11) at Warwick 2m (5) gs in Apr.
Episode (FR) (9-7) 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Epervier (9-10) at Argentan 1m 4f stks hvy in Mar.
Tis Fantastic (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Last pair, ridden and tailed off when mistake 3 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Torpillo (11-8) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan.
