chased leaders, not fluent 6th, 4th and no extra 3 out
chasing leaders when blundered and lost place 1st, held up, some headway on inside when mistake 8th, weakened 4 out, went right final 3
led, went right 4 out, headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, weakened, lost 2nd towards finish
held up, headway on outside chasing leaders after 2nd, lost place 4th, behind 4 out, trying to rally when hampered 3 out, plugged on run-in
chased leader, challenged 3 out, led on inside next, clear between last 2, easily
raced keenly, chased leaders on inside, lost place after 3rd, behind next, tailed off 9th, blundered next
chased leading pair, ridden before 3 out, kept on into 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
pushed along after start, behind, headway on outside chasing leaders after 2nd, lost place 4th, behind and reminders after 6th, hit 8th, weakened 4 out
Cesar Collonges and New Millennium both step up a grade after respective wins at Leicester and Market Rasen and come up against last year’s winner DAREBIN. Gary Moore’s charge is hard to catch right but wins his fair share and is due another success after a second to better-fancied stable Another Muddle over course and distance three weeks ago when Ardmayle finished third. Swift Crusador stopped quickly at Newbury after beating a subsequent winner here in December so has a bit to prove now while Lickpenny Larry has more to do than when successful at Chepstow. Rock On Rocky is well treated on his best form but doesn’t look the force of old.
Swift Crusador 9-4 (11-8) Chased clear leader, hit 4th, lost 2nd at 6th, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 30 1/4l behind Another Crick (11-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Cesar Collonges (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Sir Egbert (12-0) by 7l, 8 ran.
Darebin (GER) 6-1 (11-5) Chased leader, led 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace run-in, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Not Another Muddle (11-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Rock On Rocky 10-1 (11-12) Behind, headway approaching 3rd, led 6th, headed after 8th, remained prominent, under pressure 3 out, no extra after next, 3rd of 11, 10 3/4l behind Molly Carew (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Ardmayle (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Mistake 1st, held up, headway chasing leaders 6th, hit 8th and next, close 3rd travelling well 3 out, not fluent next, kept on same pace after, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Not Another Muddle (11-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
New Millennium (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Made all, clear 3rd, hit 6th, reduced lead last, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gf in Jan beating Midnight Chill (11-12) by 5l, 7 ran.
Lickpenny Larry 6-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 4th, not fluent and headed 6th, led next, dived at 4 out, clear last, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gs in Feb beating Hands Of Stone (10-6) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Very Live (FR) 15-2 (11-8) Mid-division, struggling from 4th, well behind 5 out, 10th of 13, dist behind Lickpenny Larry (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gs in Feb.
