held up in rear, headway 4f out on outer, ridden over 2f out, one pace
prominent, lost place over 6f out
led for about 4f, tracked leader, led over 6f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened and lost 2nd place towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, headway on bit over 4f out, travelled strongly over 3f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well
held up in touch, took keen hold, led after 4f, headed over 6f out, weakened over 2f out
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, soon settled towards rear, headway over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
Irish bumpers are always to be feared when travelling to the UK so Stuart Crawford's Heritage Way and Gordon Elliott's The Unsub, the latter a half-brother to two winners, must be kept on the right side. The four-year-old Starplex made a pleasing debut over 1m6f at Newcastle where he fought off several challengers and though the form hasn't worked out there's more to come from him. Hail The Brave was receiving 12lb when beaten by Stonebrook at Carlisle but it was a pleasing debut against Donald McCain's charge who is fancied in today's opener. McCain has some fine bumper horses this season and UPPERTOWN CAVE is certainly one of them. A faller in his first two starts between the flags, he then won one at Loughrea and went for £60,000 at the sales before an impressive debut on heavy ground here last month. He can defy his penalty.
Uppertown Cave (IRE) 12-5fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Jan beating Gilnockie (11-5) by 6l, 7 ran.
Diamond Native 33-1 (11-6) Prominent, lost place halfway, soon beaten, 7th of 8, well behind Master Dee (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn NH flat (6) hvy in Jan.
Gold Opera (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Mid div, gd prog 3out, in tch 2out, mstk last, ko onepce, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Lawless Island (11-9) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp sft in Oct.
Hail The Brave (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Held up, headway to track leaders over 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Stonebrook (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Heritage Way Tamayaz gelding out of Morning Caller.
Sir Tommy Sir Harry Lewis gelding out of Rose Of Overbury.
Thatsmylot (IRE) Rudimentary gelding out of Yellow Soil Star.
The Unsub (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Simply Joyful.
Hopefull 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, struggling over 4f out, never dangerous, 7th of 8, 34l behind Molly Cat (10-10) at Wetherby 1m 5f fll 4yo N H flat (6) sft in Jan.
Starplex 7-1 (10-5) In touch, headway over 3f out, led narrowly over 2f out, soon hard driven, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, just held on, won at Newcastle 1m 6f n h flat 3yo (6) sft in Dec beating Rock On Bollinski (10-12) by ns, 12 ran.
