held up in 4th, 3rd going ok when hit 3 out, ridden and beaten soon after
raced keenly, led, pushed along and joined 2 out, headed between last two, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
held up last, jumped slowly 4th, gained a place turning in, never a factor
pushed along chasing leader, lost 2nd before 4th, ridden and weakened quickly after 4 out, tailed off
tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 4th, challenged 2 out, led going well between last two, soon clear, easily
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
Niall Houlihan poached an early lead on MANUCCI at Sandown last week and the partnership never looked like being caught. He may not be given as much rope here but escapes a penalty so a double should still be on the cards. Astroman doesn’t know how to run a bad race but has never won on Turf. Sambezi has been chasing but did win the last time he ran over hurdles and Balleticon and Order Of St John could also make life interesting.
Balleticon (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led early, chased leader, disputing lead after 4 out, ridden 3 out, 4th and weakening when not fluent 2 out, 6th of 9, 30l behind Fontana Ellissi (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Manucci (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Raced keenly, made all, went clear after 2nd, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Seventeen O Four (11-5) by 12l, 9 ran.
Order Of St John 25-1 (11-8) Led, hit 3 out and headed narrowly, ridden home turn, mistake 2 out and weakened, 6th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Kensington Art (11-13) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
The Wire Flyer 6-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 9th of 13, 30 3/4l behind Global Wonder (10-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) gd in Jan.
Poker Master (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Midfield, headway to chase leader 3rd, not fluent 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened quickly and well beaten when pulled up before 2 out, at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Astroman 13-2 (11-13) Front mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden and pressed after 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Kensington Art (11-13) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Sambezi (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Led, blundered and sprawled on landing 3rd, soon headed and lost place, pulled up 4 out(normal 5 out), at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Il Re Di Nessuno (FR) 25-1 (10-6) Off the pace in last pair, fell 3rd, at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
