tracked leaders, joined leader 9th, every chance 4 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, slow 4th, soon towards rear, rallied 6th, pushed along 12th, weakened 5 out
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, not fluent next, slow 5th, hard ridden 10th, soon weakened
tracked leader led after 5th, strongly challenged approaching 3 out, soon hard ridden, stayed on well
led, keen early, headed after 5th, remained prominent, every chance from 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, soon chasing leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened next
in rear, headway 8th, soon chasing leaders, pushed along 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, soon chasing leaders, kept on under pressure 2 out, never able to challenge
First-time cheekpieces failed to inspire The Real Rupee at Thurles earlier this month but Conor O'Dwyer presumably hasn't sent him across from County Kildare for the good of his health and he would be interesting if attracting market support. Romney Marsh has run some of her best races around here but has yet to convince over this trip, while there's no guarantee Atherstone Hill will reproduce the form of his comeback run at Warwick. Neither Sailor's Sovereign nor Bajan Sunshine have much in the way of scope so this is probably best left to Venetia Williams' mare FLEUR DE VASSY, who has only had two runs over fences and gave every impression a step up in distance was in order when third over 2m4f at Plumpton last month.
Fleur de Vassy 3-1 (11-12) Always prominent, mistake 1st, jumped left 7th, led 3 out, headed next, weakened after last, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Marias Rock (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Romney Marsh 9-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, hampred after 6th, headway 5 out, chased winner from 3 out, hard ridden to challenge approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Manmoon (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Mister Virginian (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 8th, blundered and headed 10th, driven after next, soon struggling, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 43l behind Stop The Show (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy.
Atherstone Hill (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led 10th, headed 14th, ridden along 16th, 1 length 2nd when winner blundered last, brief rally flat, no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Ukrainian Star (11-0) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
The Real Rupee (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Prominent, disputed lead from 6th until 9th, remained prominent until weakening from 5 out, tailed off, 9th of 17, well behind Betheholygobbs (10-13) at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-102 sft.
Thunder Child 22-1 (11-11) Chased leaders on outside, ridden and struggling after 13th, mistake next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Apollo Blaze (11-7) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hts chs (6) gd in May, 9 ran.
Sailor's Sovereign 4-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened after next, 8th of 10, 30l behind Pete The Feat (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Dec.
Bajan Sunshine (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Raced keenly, held up behind, headway to lead 4 out, headed after next, chased leading pair, one pace approaching 2 out, soon ridden, switched right and kept on flat, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Stop The Show (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy.
