in rear, ridden 3f out, never on terms
mid-division, weakened over 3f out
in touch, headway to track leaders over 3f out, ridden to chase clear winner over 2f out, no impression and lost 2nd inside final furlong
close up, led over 3f out, clear over 2f out, eased final furlong, comfortable
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, ridden over 3f out, never a factor
towards rear, ridden and headway over 3f out, kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no threat
close up, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace
always in rear
tracked leader, led over 4f out, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 4f out, weakened over 3f out
Iron Butterfly won a similar race here last October but could only finish fourth in this race a couple of weeks later. Rockawango did well to score over 1m4f last time as that's well short of his best trip. He's won over much further over jumps so this should be more to his liking. Handiwork developed into a smart juvenile hurdler last season and will have come on for his run at Wolverhampton two weeks ago but the lightly-raced Bulas Belle has been hit with an 8lb rise for her recent victory over 1m6f on this track. Kevin Stott's claim will help but runner-up Funky Munky must have a chance of reversing the form on these terms. Winning hurdler Beyeh will be back over timber soon and can go well here providing the ground stays soft but the vote goes to COOL BARANCA, another to have been raised 8lb for a recent victory here though he did it so easily that a follow-up looks on the cards.
Paris Snow 33-1 (9-13) Always in rear, last of 7, 23l behind Atalanta Bay (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5).
Aleksandar 14-1 (8-13) Soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 7, 11l behind Hidden Gold (9-5) at Musselburgh 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Sep.
Rockawango (FR) 10-1 (9-8) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) gs beating In Vino Veritas (9-2) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Handiwork 25-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 6l behind Kelamita (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5).
Bulas Belle 9-1 (9-11) Held up behind in touch, headway to track leaders 4f out, went 2nd 3f out, joined leader inside final 2f, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, pushed out, won at Catterick 1m 6f app hcp 0-60 (6) sft beating Funky Munky (9-2) by 1l, 9 ran.
Beyeh (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 1l behind Albonny (9-2) at Nottingham 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gs in May '13.
Regal Park (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Raced wide towards rear, headway to mid-division after 4f, pushed along 6f out, effort to press leader over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 38l behind Madam Lilibet (8-9) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Iron Butterfly 9-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went well held 3rd over 1f out until inside final furlong, plugged on same pace in 4th, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Suprise Vendor (8-6) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Apr.
Wor Lass 9-1 (8-10) Dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 6l behind Lady Yeats (8-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Cool Baranca (GER) 10-1 (9-2) Held up mid-division, smooth headway on inside over 3f out, led on bit inside final 2f, soon clear, unextended, won at Catterick 1m 6f app hcp 0-60 (6) sft beating Kashstaree (8-6) by 2l, 10 ran.
Generous Dream 8-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders until lost place 10f out, 8th of 9, well behind The Young Master (8-12) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Dec.
Funky Munky 11-2 (9-2) Led, driven over 2f out, ridden when joined inside final 2f, headed inside final furlong, kept on but always held, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Bulas Belle (9-11) at Catterick 1m 6f app hcp 0-60 (6) sft.
Cowslip 13-2 (9-5) In touch, reminders over 7f out, tailed off over 3f out, 6th of 9, well behind Waltz Darling (9-9) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-60 (6) gs.
