tracked leaders, tracked leader 2nd, led 5th until after 7th, chased leader, going well and every chance when knuckled on landing and fell 3 out
not fluent, tracked leader until not fluent 2nd, not fluent next, chased leaders, lost place 8th, weakened next
led until 5th, led again after 7th, joined when left clear 3 out, 2 lengths ahead last, ridden run-in, no extra and headed near finish
held up last, headway when left 4th and hampered 3 out, short of room and switched to inside approaching 2 out where pecked, 2nd at the last, squeezed through on inner to lead near finish
took keen hold, chased leaders, mistakes 5th and 9th, left 3rd and slightly hampered 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, rallied next, left 2nd 3 out, driven before next, lost 2nd at the last, no extra
NonRunner
Lightly raced over fences, DIEGO DU CHARMIL ended last season on a 6lb higher mark over hurdles. He has a touch of class and may be too good for these with Bryony Frost taking off 3lb. Beau Bay was awarded a race at Hereford last time having finished second past the post but has another 6lb to carry. Darebin has only gone up a pound for a short-head win at Sandown but is starting to look exposed. Vocaliser has little in hand on Free Stone Hill on Kempton running and the latter should strip fitter today. Ashoka can’t be ignored but Maestro Royal will have to cope with a steep rise in class if he’s to extend his unbeaten record and he’s a lot older than his rivals.
Diego Du Charmil (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 4, 22l behind Saint Calvados (10-12) at Warwick 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Maestro Royal 2-5fav (11-4) Made all, not fluent 8th, left long way clear next, cantered home, won at Lingfield 2m (4) hvy in Mar beating Georgieshore (10-12) by dist, 3 ran.
Beau Bay (FR) 5-2fav (10-13) Led until 4 out, chased leader, led again 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, chased winner, rallying when carried badly left in closing stages, just held (awarded race), 2nd of 8, nk behind Somchine (11-1) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Ashoka (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Held up in touch, headway chasing leaders 8th, 4th and one pace run-in, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Admiral's Secret (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Vocaliser (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Jumped left at times, tracked leader until 2nd, handy 3rd, 2nd again 5th until approaching 4 out, 2nd again approaching next, challenged going well 2 out, led soon after, went left last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Kayf Blanco (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Darebin (GER) 2-1 (11-5) Left tracking leader 1st, not fluent 3 out, challenged last, stayed on under pressure to lead final stride, won at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Big Jim (11-11) by shd, 3 ran.
Free Stone Hill (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Held up last, jumped slowly 8th, outpaced next (4 out), rallied on outside approaching 2 out, edged left and stayed on into never nearer 3rd run-in, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Vocaliser (10-6) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
