chased leaders, driven 5 out, challenged next, soon ridden, led after 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat
led, headed before 5 out, ridden and weakened before next, soon unseated rider
mid-division on inside, in touch 7th, 3rd and going well before 4 out, outpaced next, rallied to chase winner last, kept on same pace flat, no impression when lost 2nd near finish
mid-divsion on outside, hit 9th, ridden next, weakened 5 out, behind when pulled up before next
tracked leading pair, led before 5 out, hard pressed next, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, no extra approaching last
in rear, driven 10th, 6th and last 4 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd near finish, not reached winner
tracked leader, lost place before 5 out, weakened from next
held up behind, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Irish import Referent may figure on his first start for Sophie Leech, but Sotovik has shown nothing off higher marks since scoring at Perth last May. Flying Squad is upped 9lb for his recent victory at Wetherby and more is needed here, while this is tougher than the chase Desperate Dex finished third in at Uttoxeter last time. A chance is taken that ALLANARD is fully recovered from a nasty fall at Newcastle last time as he still had every chance when taking a tumble. He had won easily over a longer trip at this track before that when beating subsequent winner Sammy Spiderman and a good run from the latter earlier on today's card would boost confidence.
Douglas Julian 20-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, weakened from 19th, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Portrait King (11-8) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
Hockenheim (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 7, 24l behind Time Out (11-1) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Flying Squad (UAE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up behind in touch, headway on inside 5 out, led next, drew clear from 2 out, comfortably, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Nov beating Red Kingdom (11-9) by 9l, 7 ran.
Sotovik (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) With leader, led 2nd, headed 12th, ridden 5 out, weakened before 3 out, soon eased, pulled up before 2 oput, in a race won by Mister Marker (11-5) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Allanard (IRE) 7-2 (10-2) Tracked leaders, with leaders 10th, led 5 out, pressed when fell 2 out, in a race won by Morgan Be (11-2) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Alexander Oats 9-1 (11-6) Held up behind, steady headway from 6 out, plugged on and no impression from 3 out, 5th of 13, 20l behind Beau Dandy (10-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Deuteronomy (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Led to 2nd, chased winner until before 8th, outpaced before 10th, went 3rd before last, plugged on, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Bene Lad (10-4) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Desperate Dex (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, not fluent 7th, ridden after 12th, mistake and outpaced from 4 out, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Salut Honore (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Referent (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, improved to lead before 4 out, strongly pressed and joined before 2 out, headed and no extra in 3rd from before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Mr Eko (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f beg chase sft in Feb.
