always in rear, jumped slowly 10th (water), tailed off 13th, pulled up soon after
in touch, lost place 9th, behind next, struggling 13th, tailed off 14th, soon pulled up
raced wide, chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until before 15th, weakened before next, behind and pulled up before 3 out
in rear, modest 5th 4 out, never involved
chased leader, went right 2nd, lost 2nd 8th, led after 15th, 3 lengths clear 4 out, stayed on strongly, ridden out from last
reminders to lead, headed before 3rd, led again next, ridden before 15th, headed soon after, chased winner until before 4 out, kept on same pace in 3rd
chased leaders, 2nd after 15th, not fluent 4 out, driven after 2 out, kept on in closing stages, not reach winner
held up, steady headway approaching 13th, modest 4th before 4 out
mistake 1st, in rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 13th, weakening when mistake next, tailed off 15th, pulled up before last
NonRunner
Nothing leaps off the page in this stayers' race and it's possible that the unexposed Golden Milan will improve for the big step up in trip. Upham Atom is starting to look a light of former days, however, while it seems a long time since Quinz was winning a Grade 3 at Kempton, though he did take a hunter chase at Cheltenham a year ago over 3m2f. Nail 'm was second over track and trip in December when 3lb higher and arrives off the back of a placed effort at Warwick while Umberto D'olivate only found one too good over 3m here last month. But COPPER BIRCH finished ahead of Robert Walford's charge, Nail 'm and Barton Gift at Chepstow two runs ago and may be the one to beat if a subsequent mishap at Ffos Las hasn't affected confidence.
Quinz (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Prominent to 1st, held up in rear, struggling 4 out, soon ridden, went remote 4th 2 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd last, left 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Conas Taoi (10-3) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Alpha Victor (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before last, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Golden Milan (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden 4 out, lost place before next, well beaten from 2 out, 5th of 6, 25 1/2l behind What Larks (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Upham Atom 22-1 (10-11) In touch, lost place before 11th, behind when pulled up 15th, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Barton Gift 10-1 (11-3) Led until 3rd, led after 5th, headed next, not fluent 6th, ridden after 9th, outpaced from next, losing touch 12th, well behind after 14th, 4th of 6, dist behind Alfie Spinner (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Umberto D'olivate (FR) 15-8 (11-10) Made all, pushed along before 3 out, joined next, ridden and headed before last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Brook (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Nail 'm (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-11) Mid-division, mistake 12th, headway before 16th, mistake next and 18th, stayed on from 2 out, pressed for 2nd, no impression on winner flat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Mission Complete (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Copper Birch (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inside, blundered and unseated rider 3rd, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Haughtons Bridge (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, pluggging on when slightly hampered 2 out, went poor 3rd run-in, 3rd of 9, 26l behind High Aspirations (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
The Clyda Rover (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Prominent early, tracked leaders, not fluent 7th or 10th, soon lost place, pecked 13th (water), hit 14th, soon behind, tailed off 5 out, pulled up after, at Stratford 3m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
