raced wide, tracked leader until pushed long over 3f out, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear, good headway on inside over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, edged left under pressure and stayed on in closing stages, always held
took keen hold, held up in 6th on inside, switched left going well over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ran on and always doing enough
held up in last trio, headway on outside chasing leaders 6f out, outpaced inside final 3f, soon weakened and behind
raced awkwardly in last trio, dropped to last 6f out, behind and struggling under pressure over 3f out, never a factor
took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, 2nd over 3f out, lost 2nd but every chance 2f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along inside final 3f, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Using hurdles ratings as a guide, this looks a good opportunity for Paul Nicholls’ Brahms De Clermont to recapture the winning thread. He won two out of three bumpers at the start of his career and has been successful three times over timber. Comanche Chieftain has plenty of all-weather experience and has won on Tapeta but hasn’t raced since September last year. Richard Patrick has a good record on MAGIC DANCER and Kerry Lee’s charge was no slouch on the Flat in his younger days. Far from disgraced in a Grade 3 at Ascot in December, he’d won earlier over hurdles here and at Cheltenham so gets the nod. Phoenix Dawn and Diablo De Rouhet look best of the rest as Grapevine has a bit to prove now.
Brahms De Clermont (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Led, driven 3 out, soon headed, outpaced between last 2, no chance with front trio from last, 4th of 5, 13 3/4l behind Beyond The Clouds (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m (2) sft in Feb.
Comanche Chieftain (CAN) 7-2 (11-12) Led and soon clear, not fluent 6th, reduced lead before 3 out, joined next, hung left after, mistake and headed last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 3 3/4l behind East Indies (10-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Diablo De Rouhet (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, challenged 3 out, upsides 2 out, not much room when hit last, held flat, 2nd of 4, 3 3/4l behind Game On (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f (4) hvy in Feb.
Grapevine (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, steady headway in 5th before 3 out, went never nearer 4th run-in, 4th of 10, 11 3/4l behind Whatswrongwithyou (11-8) at Newbury 2m (3) sft in Feb.
Magic Dancer 9-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway on wide outside run-in, no threat, 7th of 17, 10 1/4l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Phoenix Dawn 9-2jfav (11-1) Tracked leader, led well before 2 out, ridden last, headed and bumped flat, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Cap Du Nord (10-9) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Hillcrest Fire (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out, hampered last, 4th of 8, 21l behind Shambra (10-10) at Ludlow 2m fll (4) sft in Jan.
Ortenzia (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Keen, tracked leader until ridden on long run to 2 out, soon weakened and slow 2 out, 4th of 7, 28l behind Nube Negra (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
