held up in rear, mistake 6th, hit 8th, slightly hampered 3 out, soon well behind, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, close up when switched left before last, 5th and no extra final 75 yards
mid-division, jumped slowly 2nd, pushed along when not much room after 3 out, soon squeezed up, headway 2 out, edged right after last, soon challenging, stayed on well, led 75 yards out, driven out
mid-division, ridden and lost place after 3rd, well beaten from 3 out
tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, every chance before last, edged right and weakened flat
mid-division, hit 8th, not much room, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, tried to close before last where not fluent, no impression
held up rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out, lost place from last bend, weakened
tracked leaders, led 2 out, headed last bend, weakened before last
in rear, pushed along in last before 6th, behind 8th, pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon short of room briefly, unable to quicken before last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway after 3 out, challenged 2 out, edged right before leading last, headed 75 yards out, 3rd and held close home
prominent, lost place after 3 out, soon dropped away
tracked leaders, ridden from last bend, lacked pace to challenge, kept on same pace final 150 yards
held up towards rear, ridden after 2 out, headway approaching last, edged right, lacked pace to get on terms, kept on same pace flat
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd before 7th, not fluent 3 out, led before 2 out, headed at 2 out, led again last bend, headed approaching last, wandered and soon weakened
tracked leaders, led against stands rail before last, headed at the last, held final 100 yards, kept on same pace
prominent, lost 2nd before 7th, weakened before 2 out
held up rear of mid-division, not much room 2nd, closed 7th, ridden and weakened after last bend, well held when mistake and unseated rider last
held up towards rear, headway approaching last, soon switched left, stayed on under pressure flat, went 2nd towards finish, just held by winner
mostly in touch on inside, not fluent 4th, effort from 2 out, every chance briefly on long run to last, soon beaten, weakening when mistake last
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway approaching last, no impression, soon weakened and pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 5th, ridden after 8th, soon lost place, mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, not fluent 6th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
mid-division, not fluent 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
FIRST ASSIGNMENT is two from two around here, beating Boyhood by nine lengths on the latter occasion. The former is worse off at the weights today but Ian Williams’ charge improved again on that run when a close third behind Stayers’ Hurdle favourite Paisley Park at Haydock, with that form franked twice by the runner-up subsequently. He made late headway at Warwick in January to qualify for this and it will be a shock if he doesn’t reverse that form with Oh Land Abloom. Aaron Lad has had a break since completing a double over course and distance in December and looks to have been laid out for this. Flemcara wasn’t far behind Coole Cody in a Grade 3 at Sandown and then won a qualifier at Exeter but the real eye-catcher in that latter race was Culture De Sivola, who was making up ground hand-over-fist in the closing stages. Nick Williams’ mare loves soft ground and is very tough and her stable has landed some touches here before so any market support should be taken seriously. A few of the Irish runners, including the well-backed Sire Du Berlais, look to have more than their fair share of weight but Walk To Freedom and Not Many Left arrive in form and a case can also be made for Joseph O’Brien’s Thermistocles. Notwhatiam may prove the best of these nearer the foot of the handicap.
Walk To Freedom (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, progress 2 out, ridden into 7th before last, 5th last, kept on well run-in, 2nd at line, 2nd of 23, 1/2l behind Cuneo (10-7) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
A Toi Phil (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression before 2 out, moderate 10th entering straight, kept on from last, 4th of 13, 11 3/4l behind Cap York (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, ridden before 2 out, 13th before last, stayed on run-in, 6th of 23, 10 1/2l behind Cuneo (10-7) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Boyhood (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, headway from 3 out, kept on flat, not clear run and switched left close home, 3rd of 13, 3 3/4l behind Flemcara (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Padleyourowncanoe 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along on long run before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 16, 34l behind Lord Napier (10-8) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
First Assignment (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd before 2 out, kept on flat, unable to challenge, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Keeper Hill (10-13) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Eminent Poet 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 20l behind Lord Napier (10-8) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Aaron Lad (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Took keen hold, handily placed, mistake 4th, led before last, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec beating Keeper Hill (11-12) by 3l, 12 ran.
Culture De Sivola (FR) 12-1 (11-3) In rear, pushed along 4 out, ran on flat, nearest finish, 5th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Flemcara (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Black Mischief 9-2fav (11-1) Held up and behind, smooth headway into 3rd on long run before 2 out, ridden and found nil between last 2, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Padleyourowncanoe (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Not Many Left (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost a few places after 7th, closed after 3 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on, won at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Jan beating Minella Warrior (11-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Coole Cody (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Led, pushed along before 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 9l behind Lord Napier (10-8) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Theclockisticking (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders hit 6th, driven to chase front pair 4 out, went 2nd after next, ridden between last 2, kept on, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Rocky's Treasure (11-1) at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Thermistocles (IRE) 7-1jfav (10-9) Mid-division, progress 2 out, ridden into 4th entering straight, 2nd and pressed leader before last, disputed last, kept on without matching winner run-in, lost 2nd at line, 3rd of 23, 1/2l behind Cuneo (10-7) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Flemcara (IRE) 5-1jfav (10-9) Mid-division on inside, closed 4 out, led 3 out, slowed into last, stayed on, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Poker Play (10-1) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Cuneo (FR) 7-2jfav (11-1) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4 out, 3rd next, went 2nd entering straight, ridden in close 2nd at last, no extra inside final furlong, 5th close home, 5th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Dallas Des Pictons (10-12) at Leopardstown 3m hcp gd in Feb.
Oh Land Abloom (IRE) 7-2jfav (12-0) Led, hard pressed 2 out, driven and headed narrowly when left in lead again soon after last, ridden out, just held on near finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Diamond Fort (11-7) by ns, 8 ran.
Wait For Me (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear and keen, good headway on long run before 2 out, kept on run-in, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Padleyourowncanoe (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Tobefair 20-1 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, headway 8th, went 2nd before last, unable to trouble winner, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Samburu Shujaa (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Samburu Shujaa (FR) 5-4fav (10-12) Led after 1st, clear when jumped left 2 out and last, stayed on, ridden out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Tobefair (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Notwhatiam (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 4th, headway approaching last, ran on flat, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Keeper Hill (10-13) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Champers On Ice (IRE) 5-1cfav (11-1) Mid-division, slow 2nd, pushed along 6th, headway after 2 out, stayed on same pace, never troubled leaders, 4th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Sykes (11-8) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Abolitionist (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up in last pair, headway chasing leaders 16th, went 2nd 4 out until ridden between last 2, weakened last, 5th of 11, 18l behind Carole's Destrier (10-13) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Aspen Colorado (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Soon towards rear, struggling 3rd, lost touch when pulled up before 6th, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
