tracked leader, led 6th, ridden clear before last, driven out flat
led, hit 5th, headed next, chased winner until approaching 3 out, soon driven, stayed on one pace flat
held up in 4th, dropped to rear 9th, blundered 11th, still well there approaching next, weakened, jumped badly left 3 out, pulled up before next (bbv)
mistake 1st, tracked leading pair, mistake 4 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, well held when driven, hit last
not always fluent, held up in rear, mistake 7th, promising headway into 4th place before 4 out, driven, beaten soon after next
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Massini Sunset could be interesting if there is any rain but it is fellow course and distance winner FREE GIFT who is preferred to Intac and Porters War. Sally Alner's eleven-year-old was a winner at Wincanton when last seen, beating Ice Bucket by three lengths. That form looks solid, a 5lb rise in the handicap is probably manageable, and if the ground stays on the quick side of good then he should run well. Intac's latest run at Ascot was in a better race than this but he will need to jump better than last time, Porters War represents a stable in good form and again he is dropped in class, whilst Royal Kicks may last home slightly better on this quicker ground. The Hardy Boy is game enough but this is not Plumpton where he has won 5 of his 6 races under rules. Down at the bottom of the weights Ballyman makes a degree of appeal as his recent efforts in defeat have not been bad. However he is ultimately yet to win in 12 starts and is passed over in favour of Free Gift.
Porters War (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, mistake 9th, driven after 3 out, 4th and beaten when blundered last, 5th of 12, 34l behind Lidjo De Rouge (10-8) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Free Gift 6-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 9th, ridden from 3 out, stayed on to lead last, kept on, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Ice Bucket (11-7) by 3l, 9 ran.
High Oscar 8-1 (10-12) Jumped left, chased leaders until slow jump 4th, lost touch 8th, soon tailed off, last of 6, well behind Gershwin (10-6) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, weakened 4 out, 6th of 7, well behind Mizen Raven (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Beehawk 16-1 (10-8) Held up, raced keenly, headway after 9th, lost place approaching 11th, closed when left 4th and slightly hampered 13th, weakend after 4 out, 4th of 9, well behind College Ace (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Ballyman (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 10th, blundered and went 2nd 11th, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 18l behind Fire And Rain (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Intac (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mostly chased winner, hit 5th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, 29l behind Muhtenbar (11-4) at Ascot 2m 1f nov stks (3) gd in Mar.
Massini Sunset (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) In rear, pulled up after 11th, in a race won by Free Gift (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Royal Kicks (FR) 18-1 (10-10) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 14, 29l behind Wise Men Say (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
The Hardy Boy 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, struggling when blundered 13th, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Wednesday Country (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
