held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, went 3rd before last, chased winner run-in, kept on
towards rear, mistake 3rd, never dangerous, fell last
mid-division, ridden before last, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden after 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, reminders before 3 out, led after 3 out, headed before last, soon lost 2nd place, one pace
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out
led, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on, went 4th after last
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon tailed off
in touch, went 2nd after 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on, ridden out
Bradbury won on his debut at Aintree in the autumn and has been taking on decent opposition since. He returns from a break here, however, as does Traitor who finished just ahead of James Bethell's gelding at Cheltenham in November. Kian's Delight almost caught the useful Eagle Rock at Doncaster last month and must go on the short-list while it will be interesting to see if there's any money for newcomer Greyfriars Drummer, who won on the Flat. But the vote goes to the improving ARTISAN, who was just touched off at Musselburgh in January and proved his wellbeing with a victory on the all-weather three weeks ago. Early Applause was decent on the level but emptied quickly at Ludlow last month.
Bradbury (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Behind, hampered 2nd, headway before 3 out and pushed along, ridden and outpaced from 2 out, kept on from last, 4th of 7, 4l behind Royal Bonsai (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Traitor 4-5fav (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, well beaten last, 4th of 6, 17l behind Rasam Aldaar (10-9) at Sandown 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Artisan 14-1 (10-7) Held up behind, headway before 3 out, switched left before last, every chance last 100 yards, went 2nd close home, just held, 2nd of 14, hd behind White Fusion (9-11) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jan.
Early Applause 15-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, went 3rd after 6th until hit 3 out, well held by leaders next, 5th of 14, 28l behind Red Inca (10-7) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Greyfriars Drummer 18-1 (8-13) Dwelt, held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression, 8th of 15, 7l behind Suhaili (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct (flat).
Kian's Delight 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced after 4 out, headway 2 out, soon chasing winner, stayed on strongly towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 14, hd behind Eagle Rock (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Lakota Ghost (USA) 20-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 5th, ridden before 2 out, stumbled when weakening, 9th of 12, 45l behind Wordy's Boy (11-2) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Mon Desir (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in touch and keen, soon dropped towards rear, hit 3rd, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Une Artiste (10-13) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, 45l behind Ardlui (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Victorian Number (FR) 150-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, towards rear, in never dangerous 7th place when fell 3 out, in a race won by Gottany O's (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs, 12 ran.
Beyeh (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 14, 7l behind Eagle Rock (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gd in Feb.
