always in rear, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
prominent, led 3rd, headed after 4th, chased leader until 6th, tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, stayed on one pace flat
held up, some headway 2 out, never a factor
in rear when badly hampered first and lost all of 10 lengths, ridden 7th, never a factor
tracked leaders, chased leader 6th, led 2 out, ridden and ran on
always prominent, ridden 2 out, stayed on to 2nd flat
held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden, hit 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, blundered 2nd, ridden 7th, pulled up 2 out
held up when fell 1st
mid-division, ridden 7th, never a factor
towards rear, headway to be in touch 2nd, ridden and weakened 3 out
led, headed 3rd, in touch, ridden 7th, weakened next
tracked leaders, jumped slow and dropped to rear 3rd, reminders next, ridden 3 out, kept on approaching last, never a factor
in touch, ridden 3 out, hit next, soon weakened
in rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one pace
prominent, led after 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace
Several in-form rivals clash here but Bear's Affair has been chasing this season and may find a few of these too speedy around here. Secret Tune's recent victory came in a bumper on the all-weather course here while hat-trick-seekers Big Easy and Oscar Prairie have been reassessed and the latter is by no means certain to confirm last month's C&D running with Ashbrittle on 6lb worse terms. Duc De Regniere and Aachen haven't been at their best lately while Pantxoa was found wanting when tried over this trip on Boxing Day so this can go to SHUIL ROYALE, who has taken a while to get the hang of jumping hurdles but ran well on his penultimate start at ascot and bolted up at Wincanton last time. He may still be a step ahead of the handicapper.
Duc De Regniere (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Led, narrowly headed 4th, led again and made most from next until ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner, no chance when lost 2nd before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Third Intention (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) In touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led 2 out, came clear before last, driven out, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Ashbrittle (11-6) by 3l, 15 ran.
Big Easy (GER) 7-2 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, led after 3 out, mistake 2 out, not fluent last, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Feb beating Timesawastin (10-10) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Frontier Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Behind, outpaced 7th, stayed on into mid-division 2 out, never near leaders, 7th of 14, 27l behind Hildisvini (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Jan.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, went 2nd after 7th until ridden before 4 out, in 3rd and one paced when left 2nd after last, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 5, nk behind Moon Indigo (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Pantxoa (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 6th, went after last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Ted Spread (10-13) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Secret Tune 15-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway, switched slightly left and not much room over 2f out, led 1f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m n h flat (6) std in Feb beating Ascendant (10-9) by 2l, 16 ran.
Aachen 12-1 (10-4) Held up in touch in mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, no extra flat, 5th of 16, 12l behind Thehillofuisneach (10-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Shuil Royale (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, led before next, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan beating The Rainbow Hunter (11-5) by 13l, 13 ran.
Occasionally Yours (IRE) 80-1 (10-2) Always towards rear, tailed off, 7th of 11, 32l behind Theologist (9-13) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Balzaccio (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway to go close up approaching 5th, ridden before 4 out, outpaced before next, plugged on again from 2 out, 7th of 15, 16l behind Oscar Prairie (11-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
King's Realm (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders until after 8th, 9th of 15, 41l behind Lovcen (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Ashbrittle 9-4fav (11-6) Chased leading pair, went 2nd after 5th, led before 4 out, already headed when hit 2 out, held and one pace before last, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Oscar Prairie (11-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Busker Royal 20-1 (11-8) Never travelled towards rear, tailed off, 10th of 15, 48l behind Oscar Prairie (11-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Heathcote 14-1 (10-9) Raced on outside, took keen hold, held up towards rear, good headway approaching 6th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 10, 25l behind Hildisvini (11-8) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Synthe Davis (FR) 5-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 12, 10l behind Kasbadali (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (6) std in Feb.
