in touch, close order 4th, weakening when hit 2 out
held up in rear, ridden 3 out, headway approaching last, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakening when hit last
chased leader, led after 2nd, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, kept on well from last
held up in touch, pushed along 3rd, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 3rd, pushed along next, weakened from 5th
led until after 2nd, pushed after 4th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
Westgrove Berry has to be of interest in an unappealing contest but the Nicky Richards-trained gelding was well held off a similar mark at Kelso last time and he looks worth taking on with preference for Nevsky Bridge, who gets the vote ahead of Macchiato. The last mentioned ran promisingly enough behind good winner John Forbes at Catterick last time but would need to improve on that effort to trouble the judge. Simply St Lucia seems to have plenty of weight for what he has achieved, while Bollin Ruth was another that was well held off the same mark last time. The vote then goes to the less exposed Nevsky Bridge, who has ground conditions to suit and is entitled to improve from limited hurdles form.
Nevsky Bridge 10-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, effort when mistake 2 out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 19l behind Radar (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Westgrove Berry (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 8th of 15, well behind Bywell Beau (11-6) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
The Crook (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, 10th of 18, 40l behind Tusa An Fear (11-11) at Killarney 2m 4f mdn hdl gf in Jul.
Macchiato 33-1 (10-13) With winner, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and beaten, 4th of 14, 23l behind John Forbes (11-6) at Catterick 2m nov hdl (4) sft.
Bollin Ruth 20-1 (10-10) Led, ridden and headed after last, no extra flat, 5th of 16, 11l behind Pee Jay's Dream (11-12) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Simply St Lucia 16-1 (11-2) Held up, mistake 4th, kept on, never near leaders, 5th of 17, 32l behind Annie's Answer (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mrs mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Miss Shred Easy 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 8th, soon beaten, 11th of 15, well behind Gold Thread (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Balmoral Queen 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 9th of 18, well behind Something Silver (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft.
