tracked leaders, outpaced after 6th, weakened before 2 out
led, not fluent 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed before last, soon 3rd and no extra
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent and not much room 4th, outpaced after 6th, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 6th, weakened before 2 out
tracked leader until after 6th, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, hampered 4th, not fluent next, headway 6th, went 3rd before mistake 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner flat
held up in rear, closed 3rd, 4th and outpaced when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, challenging when pecked 6th, led before last, clear flat, stayed on well
A tight handicap but PILGRIMS BAY came good for the first time in a decent enough handicap last month and was probably value for more than the winning margin suggests. That was only a fourth start over timber and he's expected to progress again despite a rather harsh 11lb rise. Milord concedes weight all round and is not the easiest to win with but is good enough to be in the mix whilst Lower Hope Dandy will be all the better for his Newbury comeback after a year off. He was a promising sort previously and needs taking seriously, especially should he be the subject of market support.
Milord (GER) 11-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, headed after next, no extra flat, 5th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Zeroeshadesofgrey (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Rock On Rocky 40-1 (10-10) Always in rear, behind 7th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Lower Hope Dandy 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led after 4th, blundered 3 out, headed approaching next, soon no chance with front pair, 3rd of 6, 29 1/2l behind One Track Mind (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Brave Helios 25-1 (11-9) Prominent in chasing group, lost place 4th, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression on winner, 3rd of 11, 14 1/2l behind Tara Flow (11-1) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fort Smith (IRE) 11-10fav (11-2) Tracked winner, led narrowly 2 out, hung left between last 2, ridden after last, stayed on flat, headed and dropped to 3rd near finish, 3rd of 12, 1/4l behind Lady Yeats (11-2) at Catterick 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Pilgrims Bay (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, smooth headway 4 out, tracked leaders after next, led before last, all out, just held on (1 hurdle omitted), won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Zephyros Bleu (10-10) by hd, 16 ran.
Steel City 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed next, ridden and beaten after 3 out, no extra before last, 9th of 17, 17 3/4l behind Kings Bayonet (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Artful Cobbler 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and no impression after 4th, plugged on from 2 out, went 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 14, 26 1/4l behind Allee Bleue (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) sft in Jan.
