held up in rear, steady headway to 4th at the 5th, went 3rd 3 out, no chance with leading duo, lost modest 3rd in closing stages
tracked leaders, went 3rd before 5th, went 2nd after next, led after 2 out, soon ridden, 3 lengths clear last, ridden out
led until after 1st, chased leader until after 3rd, weakened 5th, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until after 6th, chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on to 3rd in closing stages, no chance with leading duo
chased leaders, pushed along after 3rd, lost place and dropped to rear after 4th, soon struggling, tailed off in 5th when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, led after 1st, joined 2 out, soon headed, chased winner under pressure, kept on same pace flat
LILAC BELLE has won twice over this course and distance and hinted at a revival when fifth here last month. She can't get much lower in the weights and could be up to landing a weak-looking finale ahead of Market Rasen scorer Walter De La Mare. It would be no surprise to see some improvement from Clues And Arrows now he goes handicapping but the Jonjo O'Neill gelding has been a huge disappointment so far. Straits Of Messina also has much to prove while the front-running Tayarat has his first run for nine months.
Walter De La Mare (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden to challenge last, led flat, stayed on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f sel hcp hdl (0-100) (5) sft in Dec beating Kimora (11-1) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Straits Of Messina (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) In touch on outside, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced and ridden, weakened next, 5th of 6, 29l behind Key To The West (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4yo nov stks (4) sft in Nov.
Tayarat (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Led until ridden 3 out, outpaced before next, no impression after, plugged on flat, 5th of 16, 18l behind Musnad (10-9) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Clues And Arrows (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led, ridden, headed and hampered after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Goohar (10-9) at Haydock 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Dec.
Lilac Belle 6-1 (10-1) Held up in last pair, struggling in rear after 3rd, plugged on, never involved, 5th of 9, 10l behind White Diamond (11-2) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Grand Article (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Led and keen, soon clear until 5 out, headed before 2 out, weakened after last, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Safferano (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
