in touch, outpaced from 6 out
with leader, led 5th, headed 10th, weakened 6 out, fell 4 out
held up towards rear, blundered 1st, headway 9th, one pace before 2 out, lost 3rd place towards finish
behind, outpaced from 6 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden 2 out, weakened before last
in touch in 4th, ran in snatches and pushed along, outpaced before 11th, kept on from last, went 3rd towards finish, never dangerous
in rear, headway before 11th, went 2nd 4 out, led before 3 out, headed before last, kept on gamely and held near finish
led to 5th, led again 10th, headed before 3 out, led again before last, soon pressed, kept on gamely towards finish
Aachen showed a glimpse of his old form when third at Newbury last month but his stable is going through a torrid time. Robbie is something of a standing dish here but this trip is beyond his best and he's high enough in the weights now. Burton Port and Ikorodu Road are starting to look lights of former days but the ageless Oscar Time won the Becher at Aintree in December and will be going back these in April all being well. Alvarado could also be heading to Liverpool but this will be his first run since finishing fourth in last year's Grand National. Reaping The Reward won at Musselburgh last month but is another better over shorter. SHOEGAZER has been pulled up in two runs on heavy going this winter but he'll be a lot happier on this surface. David Pipe's charge is back on a winning mark and it could be his turn again today.
Robbie 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place after 4 out, last of 12, 33l behind Dawalan (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Burton Port (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, reminders 11th, hit next, weakened 14th, 8th of 14, 39l behind Soll (10-8) at Exeter 3m hcap ch (2) gs.
Oscar Time (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Always prominent, went 2nd 3 out, led after last, driven clear before elbow, ridden and kept on under pressure final 100 yards, held on towards finish, won at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Dec beating Mendip Express (11-6) by 3/4l, 25 ran.
Alvarado (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Held up behind, headway into mid-division 18th, driven after 3 out, 9th approaching last, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, went 4th towards finish, never reached leaders, 4th of 40, 17l behind Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f hcap ch Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Shoegazer (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place before 8th, behind when blundered 10th, pulled up before omitted 3 out, in a race won by Saint Raph (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
Ikorodu Road 16-1 (11-12) Behind when fell 5th, in a race won by Scotswell (10-9) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Reaping The Reward (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) In rear, headway before 4 out, ridden after last, kept on to lead post, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Jan beating Quito Du Tresor (10-8) by shd, 9 ran.
Aachen 25-1 (11-5) Slight lead after 2nd until 13th, chased leader until 2 out, chased leading pair, driven and one pace and dropped to 4th before last, went modest 3rd again final 100 yards, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Smiles For Miles (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
