tracked leader after 2nd until after 3 out (normal 4 out), weakened quickly and pulled up before next
held up, good headway on outside chasing leaders 3rd, went 2nd approaching 2 out, chased winner and challenged on extended run-in, no extra final 100 yards
not keen reminders and lost place after 1st, tailed off 3rd, not run on, pulled up before 2 out
held up, closer at 2nd, tracked leaders travelling well before 2 out, led and pressed on extended run-in, ridden and stayed on well to assert final 100 yards
held up, closer at 2nd, pushed along in 5th before 2 out, soon no impression in 4th
led briefly, chased clear leader until after 2nd, remained handy, led before 2 out, mistake last, headed and weakened on extended run-in
held up off the pace in 5th, closer at 2nd, weakened approaching 2 out
pulled hard early, soon led and went clear, reduced lead 2nd, already headed and weakening when blundered 2 out
always in rear, tailed off
Clondaw Bisto has been racing over further and is now 0-11 over hurdles but should be hard to keep out of the frame. Vodka All The Way runs in his first handicap off the back of a much-improved second at Taunton but it’s hard to get away from COLT LIGHTNING, successful twice over this trip at Hereford since the turn of the year – the form of his latest victory has been franked. Plantagenet rattled up a four-timer at the end of last year and, though the handicapper has been in charge since, is running well enough to get involved. Holdbacktheriver may not have been suited by a drop back to 2m last time but has become frustrating to follow.
Colt Lightning (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Made all, strongly pressed run-in, stayed on to assert towards finish, won at Hereford 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Sackett (10-13) by 1l, 14 ran.
Vodka All The Way (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders 7th, went 3rd on long run before 2 out, left modest 2nd at the last, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Le Musee (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Clondaw Bisto (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, lost place after 6th, pushed along and headway to track leader at 8th, ridden and outpaced 2 out (normal 3 out), headway approaching last, ridden and kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Tambura (11-9) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before last, 6th of 8, 29l behind Fly Du Charmil (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Plantagenet 11-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 2nd before 2 out until 2 out, chased leaders, weakened before last, 4th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Flashjack (12-0) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Only Gorgeous (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Chased winner until 4 out, chased leaders, dropped to 4th 3 out, weakened, 4th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Martabot (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Led set strong pace and soon clear with one rival, blundered 2nd, went right and reminder 5th, hit 6th, headed before hit 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, dist behind Sir Egbert (11-10) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Scrupuleux (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 3rd, weakened before 5th, pulled up before next, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Just Spot 12-1 (11-3) In touch in mid-division, headway 3 out, 3rd and beaten before last bend, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 23 1/4l behind Sackett (11-11) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
