held up in 4th place, weakened 4 out, tailed off
took keen hold, chased winner, not fluent 4th, no impression when lost 2nd after 3 out and dropped to 4th, beaten before mistake next, eased and pulled up before the last
held up in last pair, pushed along in rear after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold, held up in 5th, steady headway into 4th 4 out, 3rd after next, pushed along and no impression when blundered 2 out
tracked leading pair, hit 6th, 2nd after 3 out, driven and no impression before 2 out, eased when well held towards finish
led, raced keenly and set good pace, hit 4th and 6th, mistake and went clear from 3 out, 5 lengths up 2 out, mistake last, stayed on strongly, ridden out
took keen hold, held up in rear, 5th 3 out, modest 4th and no impression before next
Rolling Star has had his problems over the last 12 months but he's been very highly tried throughout his career and could easily outclass these if fully wound-up. Minstrels Gallery had Diamond King behind at Cheltenham but the latter probably needed that run. Minella Present won twice at Uttoxeter in the autumn but Padge didn't beat much at Taunton and has a lot more on his plate today. UNIQUE DE COTTE was a very strong favourite at Newbury in November but made mistakes and was soon beaten. Today's drop in trip is a logical step and he can recoup losses if jumping a little better.
Rolling Star (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off, 17th of 20, well behind Splash of Ginge (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) hvy in Feb '14.
Minella Present (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway 3 out, effort on inside last, ridden and weakened flat, 5th of 6, 12l behind Parlour Games (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov.
Diamond King (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led before omitted last, soon headed and hampered, weakened flat, 7th of 9, 16l behind Lightentertainment (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Minstrels Gallery (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway last (normal 2 out), close up when not much room before omitted last, held after, stayed on, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Lightentertainment (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Padge (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Held up in 4th on outside, joined leaders after 3 out, led narrowly when edged right last, soon ridden, wandered and jinked left final 50 yards, held on, won at Taunton 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Jan beating Quinlandio (11-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Unique De Cotte (FR) 4-5fav (10-5) Raced widish, held up in 6th and off the pace, headway approaching 7th, soon chasing leaders, pushed along before 3 out, soon outpaced and weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 11l behind Tullyesker Hill (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Sea Wall (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Jinked right ran out and ran out on bend after 2nd, in a race won by Dusky Lark (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f (3) sft, 10 ran.
