tracked leaders, hampered 2 out, 3rd and staying on same pace before last, no impression on winner
led until 3rd, led next, headed after 5th, led 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, weakened after next
pressed leader, led 3rd, headed next, led after 5th, headed 4 out, weakened after 2 out
towards rear, struggling 4 out
held up towards rear, went left 1st, in touch after 6th, weakened from 3 out
towards rear, not always fluent, struggling 4 out
in touch, lost place 3rd, closed 3 out, weakened before last
in touch, hampered 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd after next, no impression on winner last
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, fell next
soon in touch, challenging when left in lead 2 out, clear last, stayed on
held up in mid-division, towards rear when not fluent 7th, not fluent and struggling 3 out
towards rear, mistake 4 out, soon well beaten
Marley Firth did win over 3m between the flags which gives hope that he’ll stay this longer trip if he settles but Jaunty Flyer only dead-heated at Catterick in January and also carries a penalty. Royal Magic has probably been waiting for the better ground and My Charity would have claims on his second at Worcester last year. Second in four of his five starts over timber, it’s unlikely that Secret Investor will be far away again but he has been a beaten favourite several times now. PECULIAR PLACES (NAP) didn’t handle soft going on his hurdling debut at Ludlow but beat a subsequent hurdles winner in a bumper at Hereford in November and again showed his liking for a quicker surface when second in a jumpers’ bumper at Kempton when recent Cheltenham winner Champagne Express was fourth - he might be the one to beat on that evidence.
Jaunty Flyer 7-2 (10-11) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden and one pace after 2 out, modest 4th when weakened last, 4th of 8, 29l behind Jeannot De Nonant (11-10) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Marley Firth (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Keen close up, ridden 2 out, weakened before next, 5th of 6, 26l behind Landin (10-6) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Royal Magic (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Led until 6th, chased leader, led briefly before mistake next, chased leader until before 4 out, weakened quickly before next, 5th of 6, 36 1/2l behind Chef Des Obeaux (11-2) at Kempton 3m 1f (3) sft in Jan.
Atomic Rumble (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, slow 3rd, well beaten 3 out, 10th of 16, dist behind Diablo De Rouhet (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Jan.
Brascoe (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Keen close up, mistake 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out, hit last, 4th of 7, 33 1/2l behind Bob Mahler (11-2) at Wetherby 3m (4) sft in Mar.
Change Ur Tune (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, reminders after 3rd, soon pushed along and lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) hvy in Dec.
Dakkar Collonges (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Boreham Bill (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Feb.
High Noon (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 10, 37 1/4l behind Vinndication (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
My Charity (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, chased leaders before 2 out, ridden and outpaced between last 2, weakening when not fluent last, 8th of 14, 18 1/4l behind Kings Walk (10-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Peculiar Places (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Chased leaders on outside, went 2nd inside final 6f, led 2f out until over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind General Ginger (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (4) pol in Mar.
Secret Investor 10-11fav (11-2) Led to 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind King Calvin (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Mar.
The Groovy Hoovy 20-1 (11-2) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed 4th, stayed on same pace approaching 2 out, 4th of 14, 14 1/4l behind The Russian Doyen (11-8) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Carried Away 8-1 (11-7) A bhnd; t.o, 10th of 13, dist behind Strike Hollow (11-0) at Barbury Racecourse 2m gs in Jan.
