chased leaders,left 2nd 6th, led before 9th, clear 4 out, went right final two, easily
held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders after 8th, pushed along in 3rd after 13th, went modest 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner
held up early, soon chasing leaders on inside, left in 3rd place 6th, outpaced before 13th, plugged on
bumped 1st, chased leaders, lost place before 7th, struggling when went badly left 9th, soon lost touch, went left again next, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
held up in rear, pushed along in modest 4th 13th, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
led until before 9th, chased winner, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, weakened into 3rd before next
chasing leader when unseated rider 6th
chased leaders on outside, weakened 11th, soon riddden, behind when fell next
PEARLYSTEPS keeps defying the years and there was no fluke about his latest wide-margin win at Haydock in a much better race that this. Off level weights, the veteran should have too much for the much younger Fakenham winner Vasco Du Mee. Legal Legend is a prolific winner between the flags and won a maiden over 2m4f here last April, when Gentle Duke was well behind, so can't be ignored but it's difficult to make a case for many of the others.
Pearlysteps 7-4fav (12-4) Jumped boldly, led 2nd, made rest, drew clear from 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Haydock 3m (3) hvy in Feb beating Ace High (11-12) by dist, 7 ran.
Vasco Du Mee (FR) 8-1 (12-4) In touch, mistake 8th, headway 12th, led approaching last, stayed on well, won at Fakenham 3m (6) gs in Feb beating Good Egg (12-4) by 6l, 6 ran.
Legal Legend 7-4fav (12-5) (xnb) held up; hdwy 5; 4l 3rd 1/2way; went 2nd aft 13; led nxt; hdd 16; led aft nxt; drvn out (2m 29.0s), won at Thorpe Lodge 3m gs in Feb beating Kashline (12-5) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Charles Bruce (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led to 6; wknd qckly 14; wl bhnd when pu 4 out, at Badbury Rings 3m gd in Feb.
Gentle Duke 20-1 (12-0) Pressed leader, led 13th, headed after next, led again 3 out, went left last, bumped slightly flat, headed close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Carlton Ryan (12-0) at Leicester 2m 7f (6) hvy in Feb.
Goodnight Vienna (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Hdwy 9; led 14; drew clr 3 out; r.o wl, won at Horseheath 3m gd in Feb beating Irish Rebel (11-0) by 15l, 7 ran.
Grouse Lodge (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Hdwy to ld 11; hdd 15; drvn last; no ex, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Things Change (12-0) at Askham Bryan College 3m gs in Feb.
Rev It Up (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) A bhnd; t.o & pu 2 out, at Horseheath 3m gd in Feb.
